Samuel Peter vs. Yanqui Diaz added to Mayweather Card!

Bob Arum announced yesterday the "Nigerian Nightmare," hard-hitting undefeated heavyweight Samuel Peter will take on Yanqui Diaz of Cuba in a featured 12-round undercard bout at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Saturday, Jan. 22. The Peter vs. Diaz bout joins the "Showdown on the Bay" card in which the main event features two-time world champion "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather Jr. against Henry "El Nitro" Bruseles live on HBO. "Fight fans always like young, powerful heavyweights who come to fight and that's what we have in Samuel Peter and Yanqui Diaz," said Arum. Peter is coming off a devastating performance after blasting out Jeremy Williams in Las Vegas (Dec 4th). "I'm the real man," Peter said in the ring that night. "This is the beginning of my journey." Peter, 24, added "I don't even watch tapes of my opponents. My trainer does that. I just go out and do my business." "His strategy is 'Destroy' and that's what he does," said Ivaylo Gotsev, manager of Peter. Diaz, who lives and trains in Las Vegas, has also been on a hot run - He had a spectacular stoppage of undefeated and former world cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gomez who is also from Cuba; stopped 7' tall Marcellus Brown in one round and won a 10-round split-decision over two-time world title challenger Vaughn Bean. "Yanqui knows all of the tricks," said manager Wes Wolfe. "He's right-handed but he'll switch to lefty. He boxes up and down, in and out. And, he knows how to beat Samuel Peter." Tickets for Showdown on the Bay are priced at $350, $250, $150, $60 & $35 and can be purchased at the AmericanAirlines Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling in Dade 305 358-5885, Broward 954 523-3309, West Palm 561 966-3309 or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. ------- This is the perfect fight for Peter at this stage in his career. Diaz blew away JC Gomez and beat Vaughn Bean. His only loss comes to slickster Tony Thompson. I think this is gonna be a good fight, but Samuel Peter will KO the cuban within 8 rounds.

Comments (18)

Incidentally, Gomez appears to be lined up to fight David DeFiagbon next Saturday. Does anyone know whether this guy is any cop? or whether the fight's still going ahead? I hope Gomez has gotten firmly back onto the tracks, I would have thought they'd have eased him back into the mix with a journeyman first. Then again, He's not old at 31 but he does need to move quickly considering speed plays such a large part in his game.

21y ago

HayeFan

Neither fighter has impressed me a great deal. Peter reminds me of David Tua on a bad day and Diaz was at the right place at the right time to take Gomez in my opinion. Still, it might very well be worth a look. Peter takes it for me, but does nothing for me. Does anyone in the UK know if Sky are going to show this card? They usually show Mayweather's fights but I haven't seen it listed yet. They also showed Peter's last fight not so long ago, it would make sense

21y ago

Mr_Ryan

this wont be a walk in the park for Peter by any means. Which is why I'm hesitant to say Peter is gonna be heavyweight champ.

21y ago

jpboxer3

I don't see how ko'ing a guy named Yanqui means anything. I pronounce it "Yankee" Diaz,lol.Yanqui is a big Heavyweight with a big punch,this wont be a walk in the park for Peter by any means.

21y ago

Mr_Ryan

Peter will Ko Diaz early in the fight bringing him closer to the top. I don't see how ko'ing a guy named Yanqui means anything.

21y ago

brickhouse187

Peter will Ko Diaz early in the fight bringing him closer to the top.

21y ago

Mr_Ryan

This guy Diaz made Juan Carlos Gomez look like a fucking scrub when he knocked his ass out. On another board everyone and their mothers were praising Juan Carlos Gomez before that fight. After that destruction, I have not heard anything about him. Gomez is another one of those guys who never proved himself. People need to stop giving credit to these guys before they prove themselves on the elite level.

21y ago

ejk22

21y ago

Mr_Ryan

Now if only Calvin Brock and Leo Nolan could fight... "It is indeed the Hagler-Hearns of the new millenium..." -Jim Lampley-2004

21y ago

tri4ben2

I will watch it. Never seen Diaz fight, but I saw Peter fight twice and he looks to have some skills. It is great to see two up and coming prospects fighting eachother and I am glad this is televised. Now if only Calvin Brock and Leo Nolan could fight...

21y ago

Mr_Ryan

Samuel Peter would KO Diaz, but I think Peter needs to learn how to jab better and use some defense. I think Peter's chin is good enough to take some heavy artillery, I just don't think he can succeed at the top yet.

21y ago

Vikingblood

This could be a worthwhile fight. Peter is sluggish and slow but has awesome KO power. Diaz has been on a tear but doesn't seem to me to be the type a fighter that could handle the upper echelon heavyweights that are out there.

21y ago

dodge

Peter by UD.

21y ago

Floydmayweather

Peter has punching power and thats about it. I rememeber him talk of him fighting James Toney. What a laugh if he through punches like that he would get hit so many times u would lose count. He would not land one clean punch the whole fight. This fight is a joke.

21y ago

Hurlex

i say peter catches him with another of his "famous" airplane spin around punches..which is how he ko's most opponents they both need a lot of work..i think even john ruiz would ko both these guys before the third round...even if he fought them both on the same night

21y ago

freirui

Two bums fight.

21y ago

trinidadpr87

i 've seen yankee diaz once and it looked like he had no skills.

21y ago

freirui

Come on,Yanqui Diaz!!!Ko that bum!!!

21y ago