By Rick Reeno
Ivalo Gotzev, manager of WBC mandatory contender Samuel Peter, has informed BoxingScene.com that WBC champion Oleg Maskaev has pulled out of his Oct. 6 title defense, citing a back injury.
The bout was scheduled as the headliner for Showtime's live telecast from New York's Madison Square Garden. Peter promoter Dino Duva told BoxingScene.com that his position is for the WBC to strip Oleg Maskaev and for Peter to either be named champion or to fight the highest available contender for the title.
"I just got called about an hour ago and was informed by (Maskaev's) promoter Dennis Rappaport that Maskaev was unable to go forward with the fight because of a back injury," Duva said. We don't have all the details and are very disappointed."
"Obviously on behalf of Samuel Peter, we will move for him to still fight for the title on Oct. 6. The way Samuel's career has been delayed has been a disgrace. Delay after delay and this is just another delay. We are fed up with this. Samuel deserves to be named champion or at least fight for the title. Something isn't right with all of these fighters scheduling fights and pulling out so often."
