By Dave Sholler

WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter has been heavily criticized throughout his career. When he started his professional campaign in 2001, “The Nigerian Nightmare” was considered a big puncher with a sketchy defense and suspect chin. Cynics truly wondered if Peter would ever amount to more than just a wild-swinging, technically deficient contender.

Nearly seven years later, Peter has slowly transformed into so much more. The 28-year-old native of Akwaibom, Nigeria currently ranks as one of the best heavyweights in all of the sport, having showed marked defensive improvements and a knack for power punching. While he still at times abandons a tactical offensive approach in favor of free-swinging, Peter has largely silenced critics by picking up win after win.

The once-beaten Nigerian is hoping to display more of his development this Saturday night when he battles Vitali Klitschko at the O2 World Arena in Berlin, Germany. Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs), who last fought in 2004, was named the WBC champion emeritus after a series of injuries forced him into retirement three years ago.

Peter, who won the interim WBC title last year by defeating Jameel McCline, thinks that Klitschko’s status as emeritus champion is laughable and plans on showing the world that he is the true WBC king.

“Vitali Klitschko is trying to take my title belt from me,” an agitated Peter said. “It’s mine. He is a phony who is messing with my career and my life. On Saturday, he will be out of everyone's life for good."

For Peter (30-1, 23 KOs), the task of dispatching Klitschko will be easier said than done. A two-time world champion, the Ukranian-born Klitschko is seven inches taller than Peter and owns a three-inch reach advantage. Thanks to his relentless power and stiff jab, many believe Klitschko’s ring rust will not be a factor. In fact, many believe that the 37-year-old’s layoff may have rejuvenated his career.

“Vitali is very prepared,” Klitschko’s trainer Fritz Sdunek said. “The camp was perfect.  He needed four sparring partners during the camp in Austria.  Vitali is a veteran fighter.  He knows what to expect from his training camp since this is his third time preparing for a world title fight.”

Despite the confidence of Team Klitschko, Peter is unimpressed. After knocking out Oleg Maskaev in the sixth round of their contest in March, Peter is riding a six-fight winning streak. While many will argue that Peter already has his sights set on fighting Vitali’s brother, Wladimir, members of Team Peter believe otherwise. Even though a bout with Wladimir – the IBF, IBO, and WBO champion who dealt Peter his first loss in 2005 – would be welcomed, members of the Peter camp are more concerned with proving that Samuel is the best in the world.

“One thing I can promise you is Sam is not looking by this fight,” Peter’s trainer Stacy McKinley said.”  He's not thinking of Wladimir.  He's not thinking of the other guys.  He's thinking about Vitali and that's it.  But as everyone knows, the ultimate goal is for there to be one heavyweight champion, and we believe Sam is the best heavyweight in the world. He wants to beat every champion after Vitali and then unify the heavyweight title in the ring.  He doesn't want any titles given to him. He doesn't want anybody to step away from him. He wants to get them in the ring and be the universal, unified heavyweight champion of the world.

STIFF JABS:

JAB ONE: I hate to say it, but I told you so. After getting tons of email regarding the promise of Kimbo Slice, the YouTube sensation went out last Saturday and proved me right. He is a joke. Slice, originally slated to fight Ken Shamrock in the headliner of Saturday night’s EliteXC show, was forced to face veteran Seth Petruzelli (10-4) after Shamrock was injured during warm-ups. Just 14 seconds into the contest, Slice (3-1) was knocked silly by Petruzelli. His poor defense and flawed offense finally caught up with him. Sorry folks, but Slice is far from ready to be a main eventer. And forget about him ever being a pro boxer. He’d last less than 14 seconds in a bout with any middle-of-the-road heavyweight boxer.

DOUBLE JAB: The boys at Delaware’s 1290 The Ticket caught up with Bernard Hopkins earlier this week. Rich Quinones, a veteran analyst of the sweet science and host of “In the Zone,” got some good stuff from B-Hop. Hopkins, preparing for his Oct. 18 clash with Kelly Pavlik in Atlantic City, told Quinones that his sparring has been fluid. He added that his return to Miami has been a valuable experience. “I have something to prove to me, I have something to prove to my fans, and I have something to prove to my legacy,” Hopkins told listeners. “At the end of the day, this victory means that much to Bernard Hopkins.”

TRIPLE JAB: Weekend predictions: Chad Dawson gets a majority decision win over Antonio Tarver and Sam Peter stops Vitali Klitschko in six.

PARTING SHOT: What’s worse than spending three hundred dollars on Philadelphia Eagles tickets only to watch them lose to the Washington Redskins? Watching them choke. Again. And again. And again. If Donovan McNabb can’t get his act together, I think it’s time we name him quarterback emeritus. He, like Vitali, can rest on the bench until he feels ready for a comeback.

Dave Sholler is a featured columnist for publications across the country. His column runs every Friday on BoxingScene.com. Reach him at shollerholla4@hotmail.com .