By Tom Donelson
Can Samuel Peter become a great fighter or a championship fighter? Now that the smoke has cleared from his recent fight with Wladimir Klitschko, we can make a better assesment of Peter. Before the fight, we had theories about him but we werent certain if we were witnessing a flash in the pan or just wishful thinking that this guy could rescue the heavyweight division from its doldrums.
one thing is for sure, we will have to wait on Peter saving the heavyweight division. We do have a better sense of Peter and the total picture is half full. Peter showed a great chin as he took on the best puncher that he faced in his short career. He was never staggered until the 12th round and he knocked Wladimir down three times. Wladimir had more trouble with him than the reverse.
So why did he lose the decision? He showed a primitive brutal style of fighting that devastated lesser opponents, but against a top 10 contender, he failed to concentrate on the basics.
Peter did not cut off the ring and was not consistently going to the body. Throughout the fight, he followed Wladimir and winging wild power shots that often hit the taller Klitschko’s gloves. When Peter connected, he shook Klitschko and the Ukrainian fighter hit the canvas three times as result of Peter’s power.
Peter's strength proved problematic for Wlad, but Peter’s problem was that he failed to corner Klitschko often enough and too many times in the fight, Klitschko easily escaped danger.
Great fighters, with the exception of Rocky Marciano, lose fights. What separates great fighters from the mediocre or the very good, is how they come back from defeat. For Peter, this was a set back but not a devastating set back. He showed heart and chin, two attributes that a heavyweight great need. What he also showed was a lack of basic skills.
For a slugger like Peter, the basic skills of cutting off the ring and hitting the body are a necessities. Challenging boxer-punchers or straight boxers like Hasim Rahman, Chris Byrd or the Klitschko brothers, requires cutting off the ring and slowing the boxer down through consistent body attacks.
A slugger has to zap the strength from his opponent before finishing the job. Top ten fighters tend to have decent chins so one shot will not do it. The punch that finished the 30th ranked fighter will not stop most in the top ten elite. So to take his career to the next level requires more skills and more strategy. Winging punches and hoping to connect will beat second tier competition but not the best.
Can Peter be great? Yes. Will he? A Good Question that only Peter can answer. For Peter to become great, he must learn to box, not just slug. Peter has the power and endurance to beat any heavyweight. What is missing is that element of skill to force his will on other fighters.
