Sam Peter: I was born to be a champion. God told me this!

[!!Captain]

If Wlad loses to Peter he should retire.

You know what, as much as I like Wlad as a boxer, I agree. This is clearly a "do or die" fight for both of the boxers. If Wlad, after beating those who were beat, and loosing to those to whom he lost, looses the fight against another B level boxer, he shouldn't be there any more. Physically he could, can, and will be able to do it but if he looses, he will never be the same mentally.

[!!Captain]

So it should be just a matter of regular practice -- a matter of getting used to the Cyrillic alphabet.

Boxing2005 suggestion is also good. BTW, Akunin's book Azazel is also available in English under the tile Winter Queen.

I read a lot of Akunin myself but if I read it when I was practicing my English, I would be in deep ****. I believe that if you really want to do it, you have to choose something that really interests you. In my case, Isaac Asimov did the trick.