By Tom Donelson (Photo by Richie Maldonado)
The upcoming Wladimir Klitschko-Samuel Peter fight is what they call a biggie. And for good reason. First, you have two contenders in the heavyweight division actually fighting one another with a lot at stake. The winner will automatically be part of the heavyweight championship picture, the loser will take a step back. For Klitschko, a loss could end his shot as a title contender. In Peter' case, a loss will not be as devastating since at the age of 24, he can come back from the claws of defeat. Peter's knockout power and aggressive style makes him a very marketable fighter regardless of a loss. Still, a loss will slow down the Peter express and take him out of the championship hunt for the next year.
This fight is intriguing because of the weakness of both fighters as much as their strengths. Klitschko, we know about. Peter is another question. We know that Peter is a one-punch demolition crew, but what we don’t know is whether of not Peter has heart. Peter has yet to be in with a fighter who can hurt him nor have we seen Peter with his back against the wall. Peter has yet to be tested by a top ten contender because he never went up against a top ten fighter.
When Calvin Brock beat Jamel McCline, he showed that he belonged among the top ten heavyweights. Brock not only beat McCline, but he came off the canvas to do it. That showed heart and gumption. Does Peter have the same heart? Great fighters can stare defeat in the eye and not blink. They can rise to the big challenges and find a way to prevail. Peter has shown knockout power, but he has yet to show that he can find a way to prevail when the fight is not going his way.
Peter’ weakness is that he is not an immensely quick fighter and the only two fighters who have gone the distance with him were boxers who could move. Klitschko will come in this bout as the bigger fighter with the quicker hands. He also has the power to hurt and even stop Peter. Klitschko’s problem is that since fight with Corrie Sanders, he has become gun shy at during key moments in important fights. Wladimir has shown a vulnerable chin and in some cases, a lack of conditioning.
In his fight with DaVarryl Williamson, Klitschko was easily handling the American when a Williamson right hand nailed Klitschko right on the button and put him down. Klitschko became more reluctant after that punch and won on a decision when the fight was stopped due to a cut sustained by Klitschko as a result of an accidental head butt. Klitschko has the tools to easily dominate Peter and Peter has yet to fight a boxer with Klitschko’s firepower.
So how does this fight turn out? Actually this is a pick-em fight. Klitschko has the skills to outmaneuver his Nigerian foe and the power to close the show. Peter has more than enough one punch power to stun and stop the Klitschko. Regardless of the round, Peter can turn the bout around with one punch.
Will this fight be like the Lamon Brewster fight? During the course of that fight, Klitschko dominated the first 14 plus minute of the fight as he hit Brewster with every just about punch he threw. Brewster was nearly stopped in the fourth round and was way behind on the scorecards before he nailed Klitschko with one big shot and turned the fight around. After the last 30 seconds of that fateful round, Klitschko looked beaten, battered and couldn’t even make it back to his corner between rounds.
On paper, this is Klitschko’s fight to lose. He has too much skill and power not to lose. This fight will not be fought on paper, but in the ring and it is here that Peter’s power becomes the unknown factor. Look for the following in the early rounds. First, look for how Peter is able to handle Klitschko’s jab and he manages to get inside the taller Klitschko. Look for any sign of frustration on Peter’s part if he is not able to dominate Klitschko like he dominated other fighters in the past. Finally, look to see how Klitschko reacts from being hit flush for the first time by a powerful punch from Peter.
If hit, will Wlad retreat in a shell and look to avoid any further confrontation? Will he stand and fight, hoping to knock Peter out? I like Peter's chances to win this fight, but simply because I am not yet convinced that Wladimir has truly recovered from the losses to Sanders and Brewster. But I would not bet too heavy on this fight as there are more questions about both men than answers.
