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Even though Peter does look in good shape, I don't think he makes it to the final bell this time.Comment
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Sam Peter Looking In Great Shape As He Trains For Klitschko Return - Has “The Nigerian Nightmare” Got His Mojo Back?
By James Slater - Although it probably won’t make those fans who feel he is in store for his third beating in a row from a Klitschko, Samuel Peter is at least working very hard as he gets ready for his Sept.11th return with Wladimir Klitschko. Peter, still only 29, and having won his last four bouts, all by stoppage, appeared to lose his way in a major way back in 2008. Losing, in somewhat pathetic fashion to Vitali Klitschko and then Eddie Chambers, an overweight Peter was all but written off by fans and experts alike.
However, somewhere along the line, most likely after his points loss to “Fast” Eddie - a fight in which Peter weighed a career-heavy 265-pounds - the former WBC heavyweight champ made the decision to knuckle down, resume working hard and give it a real go at becoming champ all over again..
Starting off small, Peter hammered out a 3rd-round win over Marcus McGee four months after the Chambers debacle. The win didn’t prove too much, but Peter came in at a much better looking weight; 243-pounds. Since that win, Sam has further lowered his weight, eventually looking solid and fit in his March 2010 blow out of Nagy Aguilera. For that quick KO, Peter scaled a ready 237, and if the pictures on ********* are anything to go by, Peter will be in even better condition for the rematch with the heavyweight champion of the world.
Looking toned and muscular in a photo that shows him hitting the pads with his trainer, Peter looks as good as he has in a very long time. Again, his physical appearance may not mean too much with regards to his chances against the always-fit “Dr. Steel Hammer,” and the challenger’s mental attitude will surely be a far more important factor, but it does seem as though Peter has got his old desire, or his mojo, back.
It’s been a long time since Peter actually enjoyed a training camp, but he seems to be relishing the hard work this time. The former champ might just have realised that this fight represents his last big chance, and he is, at least, putting in the effort that is required for such a crucial fight. Peter doesn’t figure to resemble the sad, overweight defending “champion” he turned up as for his October 2008 loss to Vitali, that’s for sure.
Peter has remained the same when it comes to the talking and boasting. He says he’ll make sure the man he put down three times back in a 2005 non-title fight remains on the canvas this time. And who knows, maybe Peter is about to be as dangerous as he’s ever been. Always a big puncher, Peter was unable to sufficiently lower the boom in some of his recent fights because he was not in shape to be able to work his way in and continue to do so without growing tired or frustrated. This time, though, with his body stripped of all excess fat, he may be able to put more pressure on Wladimir than Wladimir has had put on him in quite some time.
The Ring magazine heavyweight king has pretty much had things all his own way in his last nine fights, during which he has barely lost a round. Has the champ gotten used to having things his own way, of dominating and setting the pace? Ironically, the last tough fight the 34-year-old had was the 2005 points win he scored over Peter. Okay, Wladimir won quite widely on the card, but he was put down, he was put under a fair amount of pressure and he was made to work in a fight in which he couldn’t afford to switch off for a second.
Maybe, just maybe, Peter is about to test Klitschko as hard as he did five years ago. At least we know Peter is taking his training seriously, and with him that has proved to be half the battle. I have a sneaking feeling “The Nigerian Nightmare” is going to give Kitschko a very real and severe argument next month!Comment
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