Nigeria: Samuel Peter's Day of Reckoning

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Daily Independent (Lagos)

10 October 2008
Posted to the web 10 October 2008

Victor Ugborgu
Lagos

The World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight Champion, Samuel Okon Peter of Nigeria has a date with history as he confronts Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine on October 11 in a world title bout scheduled for Berlin, Germany. Peter, also known as, the "Nigerian nightmare" defeated Oleg Maskaev, the Russian champion in the sixth round of the WBC title fight held in Mexico on March 8 to qualify for the bout.

Before the fight, Peter gave an explicit depiction of how he would destroy his opponent in a technical knock out for keeping him waiting for so long. A minimum of 30 million television viewers were glued to their sets as the pugilist fought for supremacy with Maskaev. At the end, Peter made good his promise. He put up a fight that beat everyone's wildest imagination and eventually won the title fight for Nigeria and Africa.

But sports analysts say the October 11 fight against Klitschko might be different based on the Ukrainian pedigree. This fight is long overdue. The WBC on September 24, 2007 declared Peter the interim heavyweight champion and squared him up with Jameel McCline of USA who was slated to tackle Klitschko last year in Munich, Germany. But Klitschko pulled out of the bout due to injury. Now, the die is cast.

Klitschko has a record of 35 fights, won 33 on knockouts and lost only two. He spanked Danny Williams in his first and only WBC heavyweight title defence. Klitschko gained worldwide recognition after his fight with Lennox Lewis in 2003. He also out-punched Corrie Sanders, his brother, Vladimir's former opponent in April of 2004 to capture the vacant WBC title. After one title defence against Williams, Klitschko was set to defend against Hashim Rahman, but reneged due to injuries. Klitschko retired in November of 2005, giving up his title. Later, the WBC awarded him "champion emeritus" title, which entitled him to an immediate title shot if he so chooses to come out of retirement. He was to meet Maskaev, but was replaced with Peter.

Despite his intimidating credentials, many still believe it would be a walk over for the "Nigerian nightmare" because

Klitschko has not seen any ring action since December of 2004. They insist it might be difficult for him to win the title after years of indolence. Nigerian boxing fans see Peter as a one-man-wrecking machine with explosive power in his fist capable of crushing the aging Klitschko without much ado, the way he did to Maskaev.

Boxing experts feel that Klitschko will look good for a minimum of four to six rounds, after which his courage would begin to fade. However, October 11 is the day of reckoning for the two boxers. But who carries the day?

Uche Ajoku, a boxing fan said Peter would be victorious. "My optimism is drawn from the October 6, 2007 fight against McCline of America. It was a night Peter was on the threshold of his own nightmare. Despite McCline's height and nerve-racking records of achievement, Peter carried the day. Peter will send the 37-years-old Klitschko to his final retirement," Ajoku boast.

Born on September 6, 1980 in Akwa Ibom State, Peter's casual contact in 1992 with some boxers who came to train in his school changed his life and reshaped his ambition. He was 12-years-old then and preferred boxing to soccer, his childhood game. From there he moved to the next level. He won the Nigeria Amateur Heavyweight Championship and the African Zone 3 Heavyweight Championship, which he won 15 times, losing only two.

Peter represented the country at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games in Australia and lost in the quarterfinals to an Italian boxer, Paolo Vidoz. His Promoter, Don King has been telling everyone within earshot that Peter is another Mike Tyson and that the Nigerian's 75 percent knockout percentage supports that claim. Peter has placed the country in the Guinness Book of Records as the first African nation to have a WBC Heavyweight Champion of the world.

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