Fixtures of Revival

Apparently in a bid to keep the heavyweight class as interesting as the lower divisions, some bouts have been lined up for the month of December. Before I move on, I want to use medium to inform boxing fans here in Nigeria that the man who finally destroyed what was left in Mike Tyson (Danny Williams) lost his tune up fight to big underdog Albert Sosnowski from Poland.

Sosnowski sent Danny crashing with some thunderous headshots in the 8th round, and though Williams bravely beat the count he was soon under more fire and referee Richie Davies had no other option than to dive in and stop the contest. The official time was one minute and seventeen seconds of the 8th round, and Williams fell to 40-7(31). The jubilant Sosnowski, six years younger in age 29, improved his record to 44-2(27). Williams’s November 30th date with Francois Botha is now doubtful, I really wonder if he can get ready and in shape for that bout.

I also wish David "Hayemaker" Haye all the best. Congratulation to him, he showed great will and tenacity in knocking out Monte Barrett. The latter was stunned by Haye's tactics and kissed the canvass five times before finally given up.

Meanwhile, I find some these fixtures interesting; a clear sign of boxers trying to gain relevance hence today’s writing is christened “Fixtures of Revival”. The first pairing I want to look at is the fight between James Toney and Tony Thompson.
James Toney (70-6, 43 KOs) will be facing 6'5? Tony Thompson on December 13 for one of the lesser heavyweight title belts at stake. Thompson, 36, is coming off a disappointing performance against IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, who knocked him out in the 11th round on July 12th in Germany. Thompson fought poorly and was never able to get his high volume offense untracked against the giant 6'6? Klitschko.

This fight for me is Toney’s way of seeking relevance in the heavyweight class. Pundits believe that Thompson has the edge considering his size and the fact that he is a southpaw. At 40, Toney is probably at the very tail end of his career and it would seem unlikely that he can continue to perform well against the top fighters in the division. I foresee an interesting fixture, at least the Americans have something to cheer for and perhaps Thompson will be the new hope for America’s declining boxing state.

Klitschko-Rahman: How much of fame can one make out of a fight that’s long past. Hasim Rahman (54-7, 2D 36KO’s) has a chance to fight for the world heavyweight title. I have problem with boxing politics. The question is on what criterion was the Rock chosen? Was it for convenience or was it cause of recent form? For Rahman to be considered as a top replacement for Klitschko gives me lots of hope for our own Samuel Peter. No matter what anyone may say about the Nigerian pugilist, he still has a huge chance to dance and possibly wear that title once again. I get exasperated when I hear comment like "Hasim Rahman: is a tough and experienced fighter," says Klitschko. "I will definitely not underestimate him anyway. He is always talking big – I know that back from a fight when he was supposed to meet my brother Vitali. But that does not impress me remarks Klitschko. I am really looking forward to returning to the SAP Arena. There, I became world champion for the second time. The fans in the Mannheim region are just great and I am sure the atmosphere in the arena will be terrific”. Am not taking anything away from Wladmir Klitschko, The 32-year-old is in his 15th world championship fight when he steps into the ring in Mannheim.

The 1996 Olympic gold medalist, Klitschko was WBO champion from 2000 to 2003, and won the IBF and IBO belts in Mannheim in April 2006. In February 2008, he regained the WBO title at Madison Square Garden. His record is 51 wins, with 45 victories coming by KO, and only 3 losses. I see this fixture as an erratic one. Anything can happen, this is the heavyweight class, and one hard punch can change the whole picture. If a Rahman wins it could just be a huge fixture of revival.

Valuev-Holyfield: The question is how far can legendary, Evander “Real deal” Holyfield go. Now I can’t really figure why, he is still fighting. Is it cause of his debts or cause he is chasing the record of being the oldest heavyweight champion. Whatever it is, the fact is that come December 20th. The 46 year old Holyfield 42-9-2(27) will square up against the biggest and heaviest boxer in history, Nikolay Valuev (51-49-1,34KO’s and 1 no contest) The WBA king should have no problems handling the former four times heavyweight champion. Recently, Valuev showed how much he has improved by making good use of his reach and size. I expect to see a dull fight and most probably a one sided affair. A closer look at these fixtures shows an urge to revive ailing careers.

Samuel Peter lost before he entered the ring

12.10.08 - by Armstrong Okobia - On the 11th October 2008, the boxing world witnessed history in the making when Vitali Klitschko captured the WBC crown via a TKO in the 8th round. But had Vitali already won before the gloves were laced? Certain things seem to have been in his favour and hammered the forgone conclusion of many boxing experts..

The location
I hope that Samuel Peter got paid well for deciding to defend his title in Klitschko country. What were his mangers thinking, if they were thinking at all. Itʼs a known fact that its virtually impossible to come out of Germany with a decision and the odds of Samuel knocking Vitali out were as big as a Vitali Lennox rematch. Virtually zero. This was the first in a chain of events that made it a losing effort for Samuel right from the get go. When Samuel was introduced there was practically no cheering at all. That has to do something to your mind.

The PR machine
The Klitschko PR maching was in full effect. The last couple of days prior to the fight, saw more and more of indirect intimidation to make Samuel feel as less welcome as possible. In one particular photo shoot they incited that Vitali should take pictures with the WBC belt. A challenger taking pictures with the championʼs belt? Not heard off, till last week.

Ring Introduction
The ring introduction was the final nail in the coffin. They used computer simulated images of past champions (Frazier, Holyfield, Lewis and Tyson) who each wished Vitali success and said that they knew he could do it. Even his nemisis Lennox Lewis had inspiring things to say, with Iron Mike closing out to say that he was always a fan of Dr. Iron Fist. Strange and practically unprecedented such an entrance. Im sure that it must have gone a long way in boosting Samuelsʼ moral (not) when past champions are wishing the challenger luck. I even spotted Riddick Bowe in the crowd waving a Ukranian flag.

In the Air
The fact that Vitali was being touted as the new champion was in the air so thick that there should have been a humidity warning. I pondered within myself what effect this would have on the judges. How would they score a close round, as this would usually go to the champion. Somehow I didnʼt see the judges doing that. Vitali however solved that issue for us.

Conclusion
Now donʼt get me wrong, I also favoured Vitali for this fight and felt that if anything, the person who would depict the outcome would be Vitali. If the long lay off had taken its toll in the form of lost technique and general ring rust, then Samuel Peter could squeak out a decision. But a B grade Vitali beats an A+ Samuel Peter any day. He is just that good and without a doubt the better of the Klitschko brothers. What I am saying is that based on the above, Samuel Peter had no chance. He was a defeated fighter even before he entered the ring and he fought the same way during the fight. For those who saw the fight, saw a fighter who had no spirit to fight and got pounded into this realisation. Samuel quit not because he was hurt. He quit because he realised with all the odds against him he couldnʼt win.

Future
To the point, there is none at this moment. Vitali will hold on to the belt like a child cuddling his teddy bear before going to bed and his parents at the WBC find it such a cute sight that they are not willing to break this intimate union. This is heartbreaking for true boxing fans. What makes it worst, is that the HW division was already in shambles. I would love to see him fight a David Haye, simply because it would be good for the division and boxing. Heck, I would like to see him fight, period. For those labelling Vitaliʼs showing as superb better look again. I saw many flaws in his technique. This was not the same guy who made Lennox dig deep to win. I saw a Vitali whose timing was off and for a large part of fight was off balance when going back. Whenever Samuel jabbed him to the chest, which is what he should have been doing to set his timing and balance off, you saw him jostle to find his footing. Now there will be those who say its rings rust, could be, but I donʼt buy it. The question is, was Vitali that good or was Samuel that bad? I think it was the latter.

SLOTHFUL SAMUEL

The book of Romans 12:11, reads “don’t be slothful in business, fervent in spirit serving the Lord… On this note I want to congratulate all Nigerians who kept faith with the Nigerian pugilist. I sincerely appreciate all those who called me to know the outcome of the fight and spent time analyzing the fight on phone. I thank a caller who called me all the way from United States of America in his words “Samuel lives to fight another day”.

By now the loss of Nigeria’s Samuel Okon Peter (31-2,23KO) is known to all, I don’t also wish to reopen that lose, I don’t also wish to start analyzing what went wrong and how he would have done what. Rather I want to use this medium to encourage the Nigerian boxer to still hold on. He is still the hardest puncher the heavyweight class can boost of at the moment, the Klitschko’s has not brought us the razzmatazz that boxing fans crave for.

Meanwhile, Vitali Klitschko (38-2, 35KO’s) put up a brilliant performance. It was a clear evidence of brilliance against raw power. The Nigerian corner did no better. It was as if they never studied the strategy of Vitali before and during the training periods. The Nigerian lost not because his opponent was much better, it was simply because he did not fight.

However, as painful as the lose is to me and perhaps most Nigerians, I still think the Nigerian Nightmare has got a lot to offer, he should not quit but take his time and learn the trade well. He should now focus on those gray areas of his fighting style and get some tune up fights to stay in shape. The heavyweight class still lacks boxers with greatness in them, the Klitschko’s are formidable no doubt, but they rely more on fundamental boxing skill to thrive. Any boxer with the heart of a champion will mess any (current) heavyweight boxer up. Little wonder Don King is appealing to Klitschko to lure Lennox Lewis out of retirement. “The promoter Don King, who was in Berlin, suggested Klitschko should make an attempt to lure Lennox Lewis back into the ring for a rematch of their bloody 2003 battle, the last of Lewis's career, when Klitschko appeared to be winning the contest before being stopped after six rounds because of horrendous facial cuts. "What a triumph that fight would be for us old guys," said the 77-year-old King. Until that comes to life, I perceive a bored heavyweight class where fighting would be decided on the breakfast table.

Having said that and in the spirit of sportsmanship I congratulate the victorious Vitali and wish his brother the best in his next outing with Alex povetkin. History has been made, two brothers are heavyweight champions at same time. Leon and Michael Spinks were both heavyweight champions but on different occasions, recall they defeated the likes of Ali and Larry Holmes.

The elated new king of WBC said that he was unsure if he would box on, but with the family dream is fulfilled, the man who has twice tried and failed to be elected mayor of Kiev since his previous appearance in the ring is not in any hurry to hand back the belt. “Without dreams, life is very boring,” he said. “It would be great to take all the world titles in the Klitschko family.”

I sincerely salute Samuel Okon Peter’s bravery, for putting our nation on the map of history even though he was slothful against Vitali Klitschko.

Raw Power-Raw Rusty

My hands are locked up together; my knees are stuck to the ground as my heart ascends to the realm of possibilities in prayer mood for our beloved Samuel Okon Peter. Later tonight Samuel Peter (30-1, 23 KO’s) as we all know will be up against Vitali “Dr.Iron Fists” Klitschko, in far away Berlin, Germany.

One fact is clear both men are respected pugilist who dominated the heavyweight class at different times. Different times? Yes!!
There was the era of Vitali Klitschko and now the era of Samuel Peter. During the era of Vitali Klitschko, he fought gallantly against Lennox Lewis and only lost because of the injury he sustained during the fight. After that encounter the Ukrainian boxer earned respect. He later fought against some boxers who in my opinion, were not as strong as he was. He also fought against reputable opponent like Danny Williams, Corrie Sanders and out of shaped Kirk Johnson. The fights were to me, meant for Klitschko to recover effectively after he lost to Lewis. They all happened in 2004.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Nightmare has been active since January 22, 2004. He has fought fourteen times and the only loss was to the younger Klitschko. He has had 106 rounds of pure boxing and that’s top class. “On March 3rd 2008, he stopped the very stoppable Oleg Maskaev in Cancun, Mexico. After an interesting six rounds in which Samuel demonstrated focus and resolve, things exploded in that round and the hard hitting Nigerian ended matters decisively with a number of cancussive shots to the Big O’s head driving him to the corner and forcing a halt to matters at the 2.56 mark”. (Ted Sares).

In addition to that, it’s clearly obvious that the Akwa Ibom born fighter has no stamina issues, his chin is not that exposed or better still not too weak. He showed that when he fought against Jameel “Big Time” McCline. For a man that weighs 250 pounds, it was a pure champion’s stuff to have come off three knock down to pull off a victory. The Nigerian Nightmare possesses the special ingredient of a great champion and he has continued to show tremendious improvement with every fight, he possesses the potential of a true heavyweight champion.

Meanwhile, the erudite Klitschko was known for his decisive style. He moves like a robot and has a strong fist. A fearless fighter, with good reach. An experienced pugilist who is trying to gain relevance at a time, I think he should retire into politics. The Ukrainian last fought in 2004, when he announced his comeback he was faced with series of injuries that ensured he stayed away from scheduled bouts. If Klitschko was up against any other boxer in the category it would have been understanding, given the caliber of fighters flaunting their stuff around.

Historically, boxers who have come off retirement to face active boxers have lost, some were ruthlessly dealt with, examples abound. Maskaev was obviously rusty as I opined back then. Sugar Ray Leonard saw hell in the hands of Hector Comacho, Ali lost to Holmes and the list goes on. Historically I can conveniently say Klitschko will lose this one but when you consider that Henry Maske came off a long retirement and defeated America’s Virgil Hill, you can’t help but be economical with predictions. It’s really close. When both men step’s out tonight, I foresee raw power up against raw rusty, you can’t pack a car for four years and think it will remain the same. Wear and tear would have taken it's turn.

I join millions of Nigerians all over the world to pray for Samuel Peter and wish him all the best.

Klitschko-Peter

My prediction came to pass. The Russian Giant demonstrated a great
deal of improvement and indisputably deserves to win. The 35-year-old Valuev eventually won
the fight 116-111, 116-113 and 114-113 according to the three judges, despite the contest
initially being declared a split decision,due to a mistake by the announcer. He replaces
the injured Ruslan Chagaev as WBA champion."I am pleased to have won the title back again," said the Russian.
Meanwhile, my attention has unquestionably shifted to the Samuel Peter-Vitali Klitschko
fixture. It was actually anticipated given the fact that Samuel (30-1,23KO’s) “The Nigeria
Nightmare” Peter is a champion that seeks for activity. The title fight will be Vitali
Klitschko's (35-2, 34, KO’s) first since he announced his comeback last year. He has not
been healthy enough to fight since then.My only fear is that,he might be in for a
shock,stepping into the ring with a nightmare after a long lay off may not be the best
idea,he might just be in for his worst nightmare.However, The venue of the battle will be
in Berlin,Germany.
Yea;Germany. How many boxers got result from Germany in the last ten year against German
favourites. That’s one question. The second one is; can Samuel Peter come out of this
asvictor. Considering the fact, that when he fought against Jameel “BigTime" McCline, a taller opponent he was floored three times. The truth it is that it is
difficult to get result out of Germany, when fighting against German based boxers.
Furthermore, it is vital to point out some errors that The Nigerian committed during his
fight with McCline and Oleg “Big O” Maskaev. He usually attacks with his big right hand and
each time he does so, the left hand is left in active, this was why McCmline could catch
him on his chin and eventually dropped him three times.
Against Maskaev, until he got the knock victory in round six, he usually stood in front of
Maskaev as if he wanted to shake hands with him but he was essentially looking for a knock
out,he got in that instance. Having said that, this time he is up against an experienced boxer, who in his prime proved
he was a force to reckon with. The Ukrainian pugilist is experienced, a hard puncher and above all very intelligent. This
time out, The 27 year old, Akwa Ibom Born pugilist can’t afford to make any silly mistake.
The erudite Klitschko has maintained that he knows what to do when he faces Smuel Okon
Peter, come October 11, 2008 in Berlin, Germany, "Samuel Peter is an exceptionally
dangerous puncher who has already beaten some worthy opponents," Klitschko said in a
statement distributed by RTL. "I know that it will be a very tough fight, I will reach my
dream of winning the world championship for the third time and being champion at the same
time with my brother." Those words are words of absoluteness yet you can’t take anything
away from the most active and most exciting heavyweight champion(Samuel Peter).
Dr.Iron Fist’s(as he popularly referred to by his fans)dream may well be a mirage
considering the fact that, the hard punching Nigerian has recruited boxer the height of
Klitschko as sparing partners and remains determined to retain his title. "For me there is no doubt at all. I will defend my title. Klitschko is experienced and a
very difficult opponent but I am younger and better. I will beat him and then his brother
Wladimir - I have an old account to settle," Peter said.
As we count down to this would be exciting encounter, my only worry is, and that klitschko
would not develop another injury. The second is that the judges would be true to fact. Both
men are skilled, they are both hard punchers, but this fight would be won long before they
dance under the flood light; the hungrier man will carry the day.

Berlin Cracker

The heavyweight class will erupt with solid excitement, when two former heavyweight champions clash in Berlin, for the vacant WBA title.

In their first meeting, it was Nikolay “The Russian Giant” Valuev that came out tops.This time is its going to be a battle of redefinition and a platform to stamp supremacy. The outcome of this encounter will reshape the structure of the heavyweight division. This is true when you consider that any of the man that comes out as winner will be the new WBA king. Before I continue let me refresh our memory. The battle for the WBA title became possible because Ruslan “White Tyson” Chagaev pulled out of his schedule title defense with Nikolay Valuev due to an injury he sustained during training. The WBA in a smart move named Chageav “Champion in Recess” and asked Nikolay Valuev, the number one contender to battle John “The quiet man” Ruiz. Note also that the winner of this bout will have to defend the title against Chagaev at least by mid next year.

However, closer looks at the fixture suggest to me that Valuev is favourite to win but in heavyweight boxing a punch can actually change predictions. The Russian pugilist is delighted that the fight would be staged in Germany. “I am happy my team won and the fight will be held in Germany. Berlin is a special place to me. That is where I defeated Ruiz in 2005 to become world champion. Fighting in Max Schmeling Halle again will be like home match”. The comment of the Russian Giant proves to me, that he is fired up ahead of the clash. This becomes true when you consider the fact that he had trained and prepared on two occasions for the title shot. This is not suggesting that Ruiz is not battle ready. He is an experienced boxer and understands what it takes to fight for a heavyweight crown. This underscores the reason behind tagging the fight “Berlin Cracker”. I believe it’s going to be an explosive encounter filled with all the ingredients of heavyweight boxing. So who will come out victorious? The answer is just a day away. A concise look at the gladiator may also provide some answers.

Nikolay Valuev: Nikolay “The Russian Giant” Valuev (48-1,34KO) is the tallest and heaviest boxer in today’s heavyweight category. Standing at 7ft and weighing 147kgs, he last fought on February 16th 2008, against Sergei Liakhovich and won by a convincing unanimous decision. By that victory the Russian pugilist became the number one contender for the title. In that bout the 7ft tall Valuev showed tremendous improvement, making sound use of his height and size. He kept his opponent at bay and made good use of his long range jabs, which proved vital to his victory over his opponent. In tomorrow’s encounter, I expect him to stick to the same game plan: use his jabs and ensure the opponent does not come inside to either work on his body or try to throw a surprise punch. I don’t really expect a knock out but in boxing someone may just pull a trigger and the unexpected will just happen.

John Ruiz: John “quiet man” Ruiz (43-7-1,29KO’s) a Puerto-Rican-American boxer, is a re-occurring name in WBA. A former heavyweight champion, he lost his title to Valuev when they first met in December, 2005. He is an experienced pugilist but has not earned the name he desires. This encounter, perhaps will grant him the much needed respect he seeks. In his last fight against Jameel “Big Time” McCline, he showed great skill, zeal, determination and experience. He comprehensively weighed down his opponent who incidentally caused a lot of problems for Nigeria’s Samuel Peter, the current WBC heavyweight champion. To this end both boxer will be stepping into that area as victors from their previous encounter. Another fact that should also be put under consideration is that both men want the title badly this I hope will translate into the cracker we all long for.
Pundits believe the Russian should have the upper hand but personally I think that the man with the stronger will, determination, skill and experience will carry the day. In all I expect a solid cracker: the Berlin Cracker.

NIGHTMARE FOR OLEG MASKAEV

History in Cancun turned out to be a historic event. It was a boxing show of top class quality. When Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter stepped out of his dressing room, he looked serious and focused. He was obviously battle ready. Then followed Oleg “The Big O” Maskaev, he looked fit and determined as ever. As the pre fight ritual got underway, my heart began to beat faster; it became obvious that the fight has consumed me. I had to leave my seat for some glass of water. By the time I returned, the moment of distinction had began.

The first round saw two cautious men who knew what one punch could do. I saw a Maskaev who was under pressure and was depending on his foot work. On the other hand Samuel Peter was looking for a knockout, so much so he never entertained anybody. For him, it was a knock out or nothing. When the first round was over, it was, Samuel Peter’s round because he was able to land some jabs with the left hand. The second round was almost the same, except for some quick jabs by Samuel Peter; both men were obviously sizing each other up. By the third round, the tactics of both fighters were clear. Oleg Makaev wanted to take Samuel Peter into the late round with hope he will tire along the line while Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” was out to do all he can to ensure the fight ends in a knockout. The fifth and sixth round was the best of all the rounds. In round five, The Russian born American fighter came out smoking, he rocked Samuel Peter who also countered the move but it was clearly a Maskaev round. But its also worthy of note that by the fifth round, Samuel Peter was leading on points, as he clearly landed some punch to the head of Makaev. Then came the sixth round, the sweetest of them all. The Akwa Ibom born pugilist caught Oleg Makaev with a left hook that shock him off balance, he followed it with a beautiful combination of both hands, by the time the referee stepped in Peter had unleashed thirteen shots on Maskaev, who clearly was out. Like a dream, my childhood wish that a Nigerian would one day become World Heavy Weight Champion had been realized. It was a sweet victory for Samuel Peter, Nigeria and the whole of Africa. During the cause of the fight, Oleg Maskaev complained about been hit at the back of the head, that in my opinion occurred only once in round two.

Meanwhile, the victory of Samuel Peter has changed the face of the heavyweight class. The excitement we all crave for is here now. Those who watched the “unification” fight between Wladimir Klistchko and Sultan Ibragimov can attest that it was a dull fight, lacking the touch of a true championship bout. On the Maskaev-Peter fight, recall that in my previous writing I did say that Makaev is a little bit ring rusty. That was obvious, it was a bout between inform Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter and the rusty Oleg “Big O” Maskaev. It was clearly a sweet Samuel Peter making history in Cancun, Mexico. The heavyweight class is now reshaped, no longer the dominance of Russians but the dread of the Nightmare from Nigeria.

Having said that, it is important to note that Samuel Peter’s next opponent should be Vitali Klistchko but instead, I foresee a unification battle underway. The next time you see sweet Samuel Peter, he will be wearing the WBC heavyweight title, the same belt “The great one” Mohammed Ali wore. It was a nightmare for the Russian American.

NOW OR NEVER

March 2008, is no longer a longer a mystery date. It's a date of destiny and a date of confirmation. For Samuel "The Nigeria Nightmare” Peter it's a date with destiny but for Oleg Maskaev its a date to confirm him as the undisputed heavyweight champion. Just how ready are these two pugilists? Before I go on let me state that tomorrow is March 8th 2008. The city of Cancun in Mexico will for the first time witness the sweetest aspect of the sweet science. The actors on focus are two of the best heavyweight fighters in modern time.

Samuel Peter: He has undergone the longest training period of his life in preparing for this fight. A fight that is capable of listing his name, alongside names like Mohammed Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and many more. He had really trimmed down ahead of the battle, he actually hired some trainers to help him deal with that. He needs to be in tip top shape to face a man like Maskaev who is a seasoned professional. He has also learnt a bitter lesson from the fight against Jameel McCline. In that fight Peter exhibited some element of amateurish skill, for instance each time he landed a right hand on McCline his left hand was left low, thereby making it possible for McCline to hit him on the chin and on three occasions he was dropped. McCline did not have the will and most importantly the skill to close the fight. Samuel gradually came back into the fight and showed that he has the will power to succeed. That day it became clear again that he also has a good left jab. He is physically intimidating but beyond physical strength, one factor that will play a vital role is mental alertness. Samuel can not afford to lose concentration; if he does Maskaev will be merciless.

Oleg Maskaev: He is one boxer that is not easily distracted. He is always focused and determined. The man possesses the will and the skill to dethrone any boxer. He may not have a heavy punching power like Samuel Peter, but he ensures that his opponents are hurt beyond imagination. Apart from the fight against Peter Okehlo, that was not impressive, all his fight is filled with drama. Just when you think that he is out, he bounces back with devastating hand speed combination. The man is fearless and has a never say die spirit.

However I have maintained that, Maskaev might just be a little bit rusty but age won't be a factor. The Russians seems to get better as they get older, any one counting age as a plus for Samuel had better drop it. The Russians have strong amateur background and they have one thing in common, they are physically strong. Another fact is, having not fought for long, he might be under pressure.

This is Samuel Peter's chance to wear that belt round his waist and become the undisputed heavyweight champion, it’s now or never. Yet if the truth must be told, Samuel "The Nigeria Nightmare” Peter is up against one hell of an opponent. The man who ensured that no American, is sighted in the heavyweight class, when he overwhelmingly dethroned Hasim Rahman. That not withstanding Samuel has all it takes to make sure that Maskaev's silence remains so.

The quest to be the world heavyweight is enough motivation for Samuel Peter. He should perform as he has boasted. If only he could land his right hand on Maskeav, it might just end earlier than we expect. Maskaev is massively focused and can defeat Peter but Peter knows that it's now or never for him. A lose will mean a long walk back to the top class, but a win will make him the biggest personality brand in boxing

Valuev Remain Valuable

Nikolay Valuev, not only remained an important prospect in heavyweight boxing rather he made himself a valuable asset. This is largely due to the victory over former world champion Sergi Lyakhovich. The fight which took place in Nuremberg, Germany was clearly dominated by Valuev.

The 7ft tall boxer made good use of his height advantage. He ensured that Lyakhovich struggled through out the fight. Both men came into that fight looking great and in form, but it was obvious that Valuev had received a tremendous training lesson from his trainer, Alexander Zimin. He was faster, stronger and made good use of his left jab. When I studied the fight closely, it appeared to me that Sergi Lyakhovich did not consider the size of Valuev during training. It was clear that, Valuev won using the size advantage.

Lyakhovich, tried to ward off the attack of Valuev but it was only momentarily as valuev came forward most times to deliver some deadly punch. Although Lyakhovich was not hurt throughout the fight, he took some punches that dried the sweat off his face. He tried to move in between Valuev, to enable him land some shots but was kept at bay by Valuev’s left jabs.

After watching the fight, I picked two rounds as my best rounds. The fourth and tenth round. In the fourth round, Lyakhovich started aggressively, he landed a shot on Valuev’s head. He dogged most of Valuev’s punches after Valuev pushed him to the ropes. Valuev reacted with some aggressive shots but was immediately countered by Lyakhovich’s sharp left jabs and a left hook to the head of the giant.

The tenth round was evenly matched. Both men were beginning to slow down.Valuev continues to score effectively with his jabs but misses some shots with Lyakhovich moving his head. Valuev landed a right hand on Lyakhovich, the best throughout the fight, Lyakhovich responded with a series of quick left jabs to the head but really did not rock the giant, it was an even round.

Valuev won a majority decision; the judges scored the fight 120-108,120-108 and 120-107. The ring side commentator stated Nikolay Valuev threw four hundred punches to come out tops. By this victory Nikolay Valuev is now the mandatory challenger to the WBA heavyweight title currently held Ruslan Chagaev. In my view, Niklolay is a key contender to the various heavyweight titles and more importantly Sergi Lyakhovic remains relevant, he should just pick up the pieces and move on.

JUDGEMENT DAY POSTPONED

The much expected fight between Oleg Maskaev and Samuel Peter of Nigeria has been postponed. The fight was originally scheduled for February 2, 2008 at Madison Square Garden. The WBC heavyweight contest will now take place in Cancun Mexico on March 8th 2008.

This will be the first time such fight is taking place in that part of the world. The president of the WBC, Jose Sulaiman, said the choice of the venue is to spread the sport round the world. He however, acknowledged that Las Vegas Nevada is an important center for boxing.

Given this situation, the question that must be answered is who do the odds favour?
My response will follow this order;

Oleg Maskaev: The Russian just came out of injury. It’s obvious he requires some time to really put himself together, that time he now has. Having watched the Samuel Peter and Jameel McCline encounter, he came out to declare his readiness to fight. A move that, apparently proves that he may have noticed some weakness in Samuel Peter. But it also appears that, the call came a bit early and as such the February date may not favour Maskaev.

The last time I watched Maskaev, the Russian showed great calmness a posture that will scare any opponent. Another aspect that must be considered is the choice of the venue. Frantically, the venue seems neutral and does provide a level playing field for both boxers.

However, Maskaev stands a huge chance of retaining his title. He will be doing every thing possible to ensure the fight goes beyond the fifth round. He usually hit harder when opponent play along with his tactics; he is a master of late round surprise.

Samuel Peter: Before his fight against Jameel McCline, he was a clear favourite for the title. But it is clear that Samuel Peter has a questionable chin. However, the jabbing tactics of the Nigerian Nightmare is near perfect. It is the best, I have seen in recent times. Another major plus for Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter is his resolute determination to win. That passion to win was the driving force in his fight with the “Big Time” McCline.

Furthermore, another fact that must be put in focus is that Samuel Peter will be looking to score an early Knock out. He should strive to avoid been pushed into late rounds because that is where Maskaev becomes massive and reckless with punches.

Cognizance must be taken on the age difference. Maskaev is aging and his ring rusty but has got lots of experience. Peter on the other side of the coin, is inform, with great strength. The Nigerian punches harder, is younger and looked too dangerous for the ageing Maskaev. Unshaken determination, focus and relying on his skills are three key abilities that should floor Oleg Maskaev.

Having said that, recall also that peter has more time to stay in shape. He showed class against James “Light out” Toney, after six weeks of training. Now he has twelve weeks to prepare and it is my firm belief that he will be in tip top shape. The fight can actually go either way but on judgment day, the nightmare will scare the title out of Maskaev.

UNFORGETABLE ICONS IN BOXING (PART II)

Last week we began a series on the first half of George Foreman career. This week we shall be looking at the second phase of the unforgettable icons of boxing and the man in focus is none other than George Edward Foreman.

Life presents us with lots of opportunities on daily basis, recognizing these opportunities and tuning them into success is another thing altogether. Belief in one’s self, focus, right mental attitude and physical fitness combines to help us achieve our objective in life.
As, I researched for this article, I got a lot motivated and perhaps indoctrinated into the philosophies of the only man that has won the heavyweight title two times after a 20years gap. This story challenged me and threw me into the island of fantasy: where I wished that maybe Joe Lasisi, Bash Ali or Jerry Okorodudu can just dust their bags, come back to boxing and become champions. What a feat that will be.

However, not many boxing follower’s gave Foreman a chance when he announce his second comeback at the age of 38, in 1987, precisely 10years after he left boxing. His first comeback fight was against Journeyman Steve Zouski and it look place in Sacramento California, a remarkable feature of that bout was the size of Foreman, he was heavily out of shape weighing 270-lb for the fight though he won the fight scoring a fourth round knock out. Many thought his decision to return to the ring was a huge mistake, Foreman countered that, he had returned to prove that age was not a barrier to people achieving their goals (as he would say later, he wanted to show that age 40 is not a “death sentence”) He won four bouts that year, gradually sliming down and improving his fitness. The following year (1988) he won nine fights a feat that made boxing followers began to re-think on the prospect of his comeback. It was obvious that Foreman was ruggedly focused and showed great deal of consistency, a notable win that year was a seventh round knock out of former light weight and cruiser weight champion Dwight Mohammed Qawi. He showed great improvement, though a slow fighter he had not lost much mobility in the ring since his first “retirement” although he found it harder to keep his balance after throwing big punches and could no longer throw rapid combinations. He was still capable of landing heavy, single blows. Another remarkable improvement was his ability to go the distance unlike when he was much younger and does not tire-out when he goes the distance. Foreman attributed this to his new relaxed fighting style; he said (During his early days of boxing) “my lack of stamina came from an enormous amount of nervous tension”.

Foreman’s major contest to the world title came in 1990, when he fought against Gerry Cooney in Atlantic City. Cooney was coming off a long period of inactivity and was known to have a weak chin, but his devastating punching power was enough to make any opponent see stars. Sure enough he wobbled Foreman in the first round but when Foreman landed several powerful shots in the second round Cooney froze on his feet, seconds later he was knocked down twice, that night Foreman scored one of the most devastating knock out in heavy weight history. This particular victory was central and very fundamental, suddenly boxing fans began to take Foreman’s come back serious.

Then in1991 an opportunity was presented to Foreman, against the then undisputed world heavyweight champion: Evander Holyfield. Both boxers were in tremendous shape but very few boxing experts gave Foreman a chance. When the fight got underway Foreman bravely came forward taking in most of Holyfield’s best combinations and occasionally landing some life threatening punches. Holyfield proved hard to be knocked down but in the seventh round, Foreman knocked Holyfield off balance, he immediately replied with powerful combinations to ward off Forman. That round was chosen by RING MAGAZINE as round of the year. After the fight, Foreman told reporters that half of his dream has been completed by showing the world that people can still go the distance in any pursuit, even in their 40’s. He lost the fight but gained respect for a valiant effort.

In 1992, Foreman fought against journeyman Alex Stewart, he floored him twice in the second round but lost lots of energy in doing so. He subsequently tired and Stewart gained confidence, unleashing a ferociously fearsome beating on Foreman, the worst he has ever received in his two-phased career. By the tenth and final round he was bloodied and had swollen face, but judges awarded him majority decision. He won that fight but many urged him to retire but he refused.

In 1993, Foreman received another title shot this time it was against Tommy Morrison, a young fighter, known for his ferocious punching power. The fight is most memorable for the awkward style that was displayed by Morrison; he retreated through out the fight, refusing to trade toe-to-toe and at some point turned his back on Foreman. The technique paid off anyway as he won a unanimous decision. At this point, no one thought that Foreman would land another title short.

REGAINING THE TITLE

However in 1994, Foreman sought to challenge for the world championship after Michael Moorer had dethroned Evander Holyfield for the IBF and WBA titles. He was initially refused a shot at the title became of his lose to Morrison. Foreman, understanding the politics of the game took the matter to court, pleading age discrimination. He won the case and got one last chance to fight for what is seen as the real heavyweight belt.

The battle took place on November 5, 1994 in Las Vegas Nevada with the Big George wearing the same red trunks he wore when he lost the title to Mohammed Ali, twenty years ago. He came into that fight as the clear under dog. As the fight went underway, Moorer adopted the same tactics other opponent had used in the past, hitting Foreman from long range and kept moving away yet the Big Man charged forward. By the tenth round Foreman was trailing on the entire judges score sheet. Then, suddenly, a short right hand caught Moorer on the tip of his chin, gashing open his bottom lip and he collapsed to the canvas (not forgetting that Foreman punching power was still lethal). He lay flat on his back as the referee counted him out, like a fairy tale foreman had regained the title he had lost to Mohammed Ali two decades before. He went back to his corner and knelt down in prayers as the arena erupted in cheers. With this victory, Foreman broke two records he became the oldest man at age 45 to win a world heavyweight title, 20 years after loosing his title for the first time; he broke the record for the fighter with the longest interval win between one world championship and the next.

He later retired finally after loosing to Shannon Briggs. But put up another top class performance. In 2003 he was elected into the international boxing hall of fame, where he was inducted in June. That same year, he was named boxing’s ninth greatest puncher of all time by RINA MAGAZINE. He is noted for being one man too many selling grill, mufflers etc. and made over 150 million dollars. The grill sold over 100 million units.

When asked what his final thought was, he said “The first step you take is the one you decide to take for yourself. If I could become heavyweight Champ of the world after been retired for ten years, then the general public can do anything they want. Just do what you are going to do and do not just talk about it. Anyone, even Mike Tyson can do it better the second time round. I write a fitness column for U.S.A week end edition. In researching for that column I learned you have to be flexible in your thinking and not be head strong. There is nothing wrong with been down, because you can only go up, it is never to late to start all over again”

UNFORGETABLE ICONS IN BOXING (PART II)

Last week we began a series on the first half of George Forman career. This week we shall be looking at the second phase of the unforgettable icons of boxing and the man in focus is none other than George Edward Forman.

Life presents us with lots of opportunities on daily basis, recognizing these opportunities and tuning them into success is another thing altogether. Belief in one’s self, focus, right mental attitude and physical fitness combines to help us achieve our objective in life.
As, I researched for this article, I got a lot motivated and perhaps indoctrinated into the philosophies of the only man that has won the heavyweight title two times after a 20years gap. This story challenged me and threw me into the island of fantasy: where I wished that maybe Joe Lasisi, Bash Ali or Jerry Okorodudu can just dust their bags, come back to boxing and become champions. What a feat that will be.

However, not many boxing follower’s gave Foreman a chance when he announce his second comeback at the age of 38, in 1987, precisely 10years after he left boxing. His first comeback fight was against Journeyman Steve Zouski and it look place in Sacramento California, a remarkable feature of that bout was the size of Foreman, he was heavily out of shape weighing 270-lb for the fight though he won the fight scoring a fourth round knock out. Many thought his decision to return to the ring was a huge mistake, Foreman countered that, he had returned to prove that age was not a barrier to people achieving their goals (as he would say later, he wanted to show that age 40 is not a “death sentence”) He won four bouts that year, gradually sliming down and improving his fitness. The following year (1988) he won nine fights a feat that made boxing followers began to re-think on the prospect of his comeback. It was obvious that Foreman was ruggedly focused and showed great deal of consistency, a notable win that year was a seventh round knock out of former light weight and cruiser weight champion Dwight Mohammed Qawi. He showed great improvement, though a slow fighter he had not lost much mobility in the ring since his first “retirement” although he found it harder to keep his balance after throwing big punches and could no longer throw rapid combinations. He was still capable of landing heavy, single blows. Another remarkable improvement was his ability to go the distance unlike when he was much younger and does not tire-out when he goes the distance. Foreman attributed this to his new relaxed fighting style; he said (During his early days of boxing) “my lack of stamina came from an enormous amount of nervous tension”.

Foreman’s major contest to the world title came in 1990, when he fought against Gerry Cooney in Atlantic City. Cooney was coming off a long period of inactivity and was known to have a weak chin, but his devastating punching power was enough to make any opponent see stars. Sure enough he wobbled Foreman in the first round but when Foreman landed several powerful shots in the second round Cooney froze on his feet, seconds later he was knocked down twice, that night Foreman scored one of the most devastating knock out in heavy weight history. This particular victory was central and very fundamental, suddenly boxing fans began to take Foreman’s come back serious.

Then in1991 an opportunity was presented to Foreman, against the then undisputed world heavyweight champion: Evander Holyfield. Both boxers were in tremendous shape but very few boxing experts gave Foreman a chance. When the fight got underway Foreman bravely came forward taking in most of Holyfield’s best combinations and occasionally landing some life threatening punches. Holyfield proved hard to be knocked down but in the seventh round, Foreman knocked Holyfield off balance, he immediately replied with powerful combinations to ward off Forman. That round was chosen by RING MAGAZINE as round of the year. After the fight, Foreman told reporters that half of his dream has been completed by showing the world that people can still go the distance in any pursuit, even in their 40’s. He lost the fight but gained respect for a valiant effort.

In 1992, Foreman fought against journeyman Alex Stewart, he floored him twice in the second round but lost lots of energy in doing so. He subsequently tired and Stewart gained confidence, unleashing a ferociously fearsome beating on Foreman, the worst he has ever received in his two-phased career. By the tenth and final round he was bloodied and had swollen face, but judges awarded him majority decision. He won that fight but many urged him to retire but he refused.

In 1993, Foreman received another title shot this time it was against Tommy Morrison, a young fighter, known for his ferocious punching power. The fight is most memorable for the awkward style that was displayed by Morrison; he retreated through out the fight, refusing to trade toe-to-toe and at some point turned his back on Foreman. The technique paid off anyway as he won a unanimous decision. At this point, no one thought that Foreman would land another title short.

REGAINING THE TITLE

However in 1994, Foreman sought to challenge for the world championship after Michael Moorer had dethroned Evander Holyfield for the IBF and WBA titles. He was initially refused a shot at the title became of his lose to Morrison. Foreman, understanding the politics of the game took the matter to court, pleading age discrimination. He won the case and got one last chance to fight for what is seen as the real heavyweight belt.

The battle took place on November 5, 1994 in Las Vegas Nevada with the Big George wearing the same red trunks he wore when he lost the title to Mohammed Ali, twenty years ago. He came into that fight as the clear under dog. As the fight went underway, Moorer adopted the same tactics other opponent had used in the past, hitting Foreman from long range and kept moving away yet the Big Man charged forward. By the tenth round Foreman was trailing on the entire judges score sheet. Then, suddenly, a short right hand caught Moorer on the tip of his chin, gashing open his bottom lip and he collapsed to the canvas (not forgetting that Foreman punching power was still lethal). He lay flat on his back as the referee counted him out, like a fairy tale foreman had regained the title he had lost to Mohammed Ali two decades before. He went back to his corner and knelt down in prayers as the arena erupted in cheers. With this victory, Foreman broke two records he became the oldest man at age 45 to win a world heavyweight title, 20 years after loosing his title for the first time; he broke the record for the fighter with the longest interval win between one world championship and the next.

He later retired finally after loosing to Shannon Briggs. But put up another top class performance. In 2003 he was elected into the international boxing hall of fame, where he was inducted in June. That same year, he was named boxing’s ninth greatest puncher of all time by RINA MAGAZINE. He is noted for being one man too many selling grill, mufflers etc. and made over 150 million dollars. The grill sold over 100 million units.

When asked what his final thought was, he said “The first step you take is the one you decide to take for yourself. If I could become heavyweight Champ of the world after been retired for ten years, then the general public can do anything they want. Just do what you are going to do and do not just talk about it. Anyone, even Mike Tyson can do it better the second time round. I write a fitness column for U.S.A week end edition. In researching for that column I learned you have to be flexible in your thinking and not be head strong. There is nothing wrong with been down, because you can only go up, it is never to late to start all over again”