Klitschko-Peter continues to heat up
Champ and ex-champ ready for Oct. 11 showdown

Story by Chris Cozzone
Photo: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME

It may be a fight for just one-quarter of the heavyweight puzzle, but the Oct. 11 showdown, between WBC Champion Sam Peter and former WBC champ Vitali Klitschko, wearing that same sanctioning body’s nebulous mantle of “champion emeritus” in his long-awaited return, may be just what the former glamour division needs to get back on top.

Peter, 30-1 (23 KOs), who toppled Oleg Maskaev earlier this year for his belt, after being nearly toppled himself against Jameel McCline last year, for the interim version of that same belt, will face Klitschko, 35-2 (34 KOs), on Oct. 11 from the O2 World Arena in Berlin, Germany. The fight will air on Showtime, as part of a doubleheader, followed by a title fight between Chad Dawson and Antonio Tarver, from Las Vegas.

The two continued to uphold what appears to be a healthy dislike and a healthy respect for one another, in a national teleconference held Wednesday afternoon.

“He’s a good fighter, but I don’t know why he says he’s a world champion,” said Peter, referring to his opponent’s ‘emeritus’ status.

“I don’t know what gives him the right to step in my spotlight . . . I’m heavyweight champion of the world. I struggled to be who I am today.”

“I don’t lose my title in a fight,” countered Klitschko. “I gave up my title three years ago. But now, I want my title back . . . It will be a real heavyweight fight between two world champions, because I'm the world champion, the champion who doesn't lose his title, and against active world champion Samuel Peter.”

If Klitschko can pull off the win, it will be the first time in history that two brothers have held world heavyweight titles at the same time—Wladimir Klitschko holds half the championship—the IBF and WBO belts—while Ruslan Chagaev has the WBA strap.

“If I had to say who is the strongest one, no question Wladimir is the strongest in the division,” Vitali said of his brother. “In my opinion the second strongest is Samuel Peter and just after that is (Ruslan) Chagaev and (Nikolai) Valuev.”

Whether or not the actual fight lives up to expectation, the outcome alone presents an interesting scenario for the heavyweight division: Should Klitschko win, with the two brothers as champs, unification fights will not progress beyond one of them challenging Chagaev—but if Peter retains his belt, a rematch/unification battle with Wladimir Klitschko is a natural.

In 2005, on his way to a title fight, Peter suffered his only loss to Wladimir.

“They fight like they’re robots,” Peter said about the Klitschkos. “I beat his brother, but (they) give him the fight. That does not matter. They both fight like robots. I'm not a robot. I am skilled fighter and puncher. I do whatever I need to win . . . I'll prove myself again. I'll prove my skill. It only takes one thing to win this fight and I have it. I'm going to beat him.”

Though he is, at present, a slight underdog in the sportsbooks, Klitschko says he is unconcerned with past injuries or ring rust, going into the Peter fight.

“You know what, I can explain to you how good I feel,” he said. “But it’s much more important to show it with a good performance.

“I'm so sorry, Samuel. You made a fight with Wladimir and Wladimir stopped you. You had to wait a couple of years to fight for world championship again. You grew and you are now at world champion. I have nothing against you, but I want to fight again for my title and take my title back.”