Vitali Klitschko: "I'll Knock Sam Peter Out Within Six"

[TheFairPole]

Is it my imagination or did Sam Peter look scared of Vitaly Klitschko? Klitschko actually snickered at him when Peter turned away with a what looked to be an expression of fear on his face. Previously I had Peter winning this fight, now I'm not sure.

I thought the same thing. Peter looked like he was quivering in fear for a good 10 seconds after the stairdown...

[dmaclv]

Has Klitschko really beaten any credible opponents? Saunders was alright but had already been KTFO by Hasim Rahman and Timo Hoffmann never really became all that much in the division and Kirk Johnson was a bloated whale when he fought Klitschko and chris byrd......forgot he quit in that one.

[Stickman]

Has Klitschko really beaten any credible opponents? Saunders was alright but had already been KTFO by Hasim Rahman and Timo Hoffmann never really became all that much in the division and Kirk Johnson was a bloated whale when he fought Klitschko and chris byrd......forgot he quit in that one.

Sanders kicked his own ass against Rahman...have you seen that fight? Sanders knocked Rahman completely out of the ring, was beating him like a red headed step child before he gassed and got TKO'd. COnditioning was never of great interest to Sanders. Had it been, he could've ruled the division, and I'd have picked him for a favorite over even Lewis.

Kirk Johnson...that fight didn't go long enough for his fat to really matter. He was still fast, probably had even more power than he did when he was trim and fit...he just got beat down by a more aggressive fighter.

As for the Byrd fight, Klitchko was ahead on all the cards when he tore his left rotator cuff. Not you, or anyone else, is going to continue with an injury like that. Not only is it very painful, if you continue using it after you've torn it, you'll do nothing but make the injury worse, and in all likelihood, permanent. Whether anyone else agrees with him or not, it was the right move. No point in throwing away his entire career for a single fight just to prove how tough he is.

[-Swizzy-]

Vitali: "Peter is a very big puncher but, Klitschko is also a good puncher."

lol, I love how he refers to himself in the 3rd person.

[Randall_Hopkirk]

Has Klitschko really beaten any credible opponents? Saunders was alright but had already been KTFO by Hasim Rahman and Timo Hoffmann never really became all that much in the division and Kirk Johnson was a bloated whale when he fought Klitschko and chris byrd......forgot he quit in that one.

No. His reputation as based on a plucky performance in which he lost.

[Boofdatruth]

The one thing Vitali can do is fight. When he lost to Byrd, it was a fight he was winning, and he was suffering from a terrible injury. His heart can not be questioned. Lennox had to cut the man to ribbons just to stop the man. Lennox, not anyone else, Lennox, a top 10 heavy possibly in the history of this sport.

[Knicksman20]

Wladimir klitschko was not trying to KO Peter, and I'm sure he could have if he tried. As Manny Steward explained, and as we actually saw in the fight, Klitschko was only punching with little more than half power. His left was not the usual battering ram with all his body from the feet up, behind it. it was more a punitive but not conclusive punch. As for his right, this is where his reticence to fully commit himself was most evident. There probably was not a single solitary time, when Klitschko uised his right hand, that when he missed, he left himself out of position.

When you punch with full power, and miss, you can't help but be off balance and out of position, ready for an astute, conterpunch. Thsi he didn't do. And as Steward explained, he had good reason. He HAD TO WIN THIS FIGHT, and couldnt' take any xchance that he'd leave himself open for Peter's supposed thunder.

In the beginning of the 12th, Klitschko caught Peter with a very good, but ordinary looking, left=hook, which caused Peter's legs to buckle, and he nearly went down. It was very obvious that Klitschko didn't go after him wnen a KO would have been almost certain.

Very likely his punching power reputation, made by knocking over stiffs, is exaggerated, as is his supposedly strong chin, since Jameel McCline, an ordinary non-KO puncher put him down 3 times in their fight.

If there is any of the old Vitaly Klitschko left, and I hope there is, if he gets Peter into even a hint of trouble, he'll go after him like a ravenous tiger. He's an excellent finisher, due to his aggressiveness and extremely accurate punching.

You're kidding me right? Wlad hit him with everything & the kitchen sink & was only able to wobble him in the 12th after a tough fight. It was only after Peter was fatigued that Wlad was able to hurt him & I think the objective fan would agree with that observation. Vitali isn't the offensive machine that Wlad is at any point in his career & the time off & the injuries I think are going to play a big role in this fight.

[Knicksman20]

Yea, your theory makes sense. Vitali has a higher KO percentage and has only let one fighter make it out of a fight he was not injured in.

Another thing. If Jameel McCline can almost KO Peter and Wlad can wobble him with a jab/hook halfheartedly thrown, I'm pretty sure a guy with like a 92% KO ratio and a partial win against Lennox "F'in" Lewis will be able to stop him.

Your credibility went out of the window when you mention a partial win over Lewis. His face was WRECKED & the fight was stopped by TKO amnesiac. Your reasoning is on the level of a 5 year old boxing fan if you think KO percentages mean as much as you're putting stock into. Look at the quality of opposition he's fought then get back to me when you actually know a little about boxing. In the heavyweight division all it takes is one punch to change things because these guys a big.

[sparked_85]

he will.

Peter is not good.

[edgarg]

You're kidding me right? Wlad hit him with everything & the kitchen sink & was only able to wobble him in the 12th after a tough fight. It was only after Peter was fatigued that Wlad was able to hurt him & I think the objective fan would agree with that observation. Vitali isn't the offensive machine that Wlad is at any point in his career & the time off & the injuries I think are going to play a big role in this fight.

I'm surprised that a boxing fan who's been on this boead since 2004 wouldhold such unformed opinions. Every word I wrote was amply corroborated by Manny Steward, almost in the very same terms. The punch that nearly KD Peter was nothing out of the ordinary, and the big palooka was KD 3 times by light hitting Jameel McCline, in the very early rounds, not when "he was tired".

For you to think that "Vitaly isn't the offensive machine....etc" I have to say you really don't know what you are saying. V Klirschko is one of the most accurate punchers I've ever seen, and is a thoroughly devastating finisher. He's like a hunting tiger in the ring, and at the slightest sign of weakness in the opponent, he jumps right down his throat.
Wladimir, by comparison is rather tame, and, although earlier in his career would be just as ferocious, since being trained by Steward, now "waits and sees".

The now have two completely different boxing styles, and I'm surprised that it isn't immediately obvious to you.