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.