Oleg Maskaev and Samuel Peter: American Dreams

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Cliff Rold - When he defeated Felix Trinidad to stamp himself as the Middleweight champion of the World, Bernard Hopkins reflected on his journey from prison to kingship by stating “I am the American Dream.” Redemption is certainly one of America’s ideals, its dreams. There are others dreams as well.

This is about an other.

The second chapter of the cinematic holy Trinity, The Godfather Part II, opens with a young Don Corleone making his way to Ellis Island, an iconic image of the penniless immigrant venturing towards the shining city on the hill in pursuit of something better. It is an image that Heavyweight contenders Oleg Maskaev (34-5, 26 KO, WBC titlist) of Kazakhstan, and Samuel Peter (29-1, 22 KO, WBC interim titlist) of Nigeria, can both relate to. As they head into the ring this Saturday, each will have their fates, their American dreams, literally in their own hands.

It is Peter, 27 and currently residing in Las Vegas, who is expected to win this weekend. A shaky performance last September against Jameel McCline, which saw Peter dropped three times early before rising to win a decision, has evened the perceptual odds here a bit but they are still long odds. [details]

[edgarg]

Notning much can be written about this weekoend's heavyweight bout which hasn't already been written. Let's hope that the writer isn't exactly correct, since we want to see a more-or-less equal-level fight. Otherwise we won't really see a fight at all. We'll see, according to the writer, an old man go down before the "alarming power" of Samuel Peter whom he is expecting to win BIG-TIME. The last BIG-TIME experience Samuel had was in his last fight, with Jameel "Big Time" McCline, who floored him thrice in two rounds. And.....since we hope for a real fight, we can remind ourselves that Samuel's alarming power is at least matched by Oleg's tremendous power, since both have roughly equavalent %age KO records, with Maskiev having had much the better opposition. Still, he's 39........so we wait and see.

[The Critic]

Nicely written given the context.

[Leo Pradun]

Maskaevs age is whats bringing him down and he hasnt faught for over a year but it should be a good fight cause both guys will not back down and both are not afraid to get hit, this is going to much better then Klitschko Ibragimov

[Dorian]

Both fighters are true warriors and both like to trade punches, it will be an exciting fight but Peter has the advantage since Maskaev has had a lay off, still it should be interesting

[crold1]

Wow, Teddy Atlas last night expected less from this than even me, picking Peter straight in 1.

[Dorian]

Atlas is a moron then, even if peter wins it won't be in the first round