Wladimir Klitschko Interview: "Samuel Peter is Getting Knocked Out!"

By Rick Reeno

On September 24, two young heavyweight lions will clash to crown a future heir in their division. Wladimir Klitschko, once considered the heir apparent to Lennox Lewis, will take on Samuel Peter, the undefeated heavyweight from Nigeria, in a do or die fight in Atlantic City. The high stakes fight will be televised by HBO and Wladimir knows that his career cannot afford to lose this fight. 

A win over Peter would reestablish Wladimir as a top heavyweight within the division and would make him the mandatory challenger to both the WBO and IBF heavyweight titles. 

BoxingScene sat down with Klitschko to discuss the upcoming fight with Samuel Peter.

Do you think the Peter camp is overlooking you? Do you think they are looking too much at your losses to Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster?

They forget I have over 40 other fights. I know that a lot of people have me as the underdog in this fight. I'm going to show that I'm the better fighter on Saturday and I'm looking forward to performing very well in the fight. I've trained very hard for this fight. The wait is almost over.

Samuel Peter is not a boxer like Chris Byrd. You know as well as I do, he is coming straight for you at the opening bell. If you have to, will you stand and trade with Peter in order to test his chin?

Well, I have more than one plan for this fight. I know what he is going to do, but there is more than one plan in case he comes with something else. No matter what he does, I will be ready for him.

Most experts predict that this fight will not go the distance because somebody will get knocked out, do you think the fight will go the distance?

I must correct you, not somebody is going to get knocked out, Samuel Peter is going to get knocked out. I don't think the fight will go the distance, I think someone will get knocked out and that will be Samuel Peter. 

Originally Peter was a heavy favorite to win this fight, in the last few weeks the odds have evened up in some circles. Are you surprised at the amount of fans that are now backing you to win this fight?

I am very thankful for the fans support. I'm going to win this fight for them and prove that I am the better fighter.

This is an elimination bout for the WBO and IBF heavyweight titles. Should Lamon Brewster and Chris Byrd get past their upcoming fights, who would you want first? Would it be revenge on Brewster or a rematch with Byrd?

Well, that is something that I can't answer until after the fight. I don't even want to think about those fights right now. I'm only thinking about Samuel Peter and my mind is on beating Samuel Peter. After I beat Samuel Peter on Saturday, then we will talk about other fights.

What is your goal right now? Is it to become champion again? Unify the division with your brother?

Yes. I was champion before and I want to be the champion again. Me and my brother Vitali will both be champions in the heavyweight division. 

Since you and your brother were able to cross over to America, there have been a lot of European fighters coming over.

Well, Lennox Lewis was here before us. It's not so much what nationalities the fighters are, it's their skill and how well they perform in the ring. If they perform well in the ring, then the boxing fans will support them.

In closing, what would you like to to the people reading this.

I know there are doubts about me as a fighter, the wait is almost over for this fight. I want to say thank you to all of the fans that support me. I will show the fans that I am a great fighter. I will beat Samuel Peter on Saturday and show to everyone that all of the doubts about me as a fighter are wrong.