Wladimir Klitschko says he expects a tough contest against Samuel Peter when the two heavyweights meet in Frankfurt on Saturday.
Champion says Nigerian now has skills to go with strength
Wladimir Klitschko says he expects a tough contest against Samuel Peter when the two heavyweights meet in Frankfurt on Saturday.
Klitschko, who holds the WBO, IBF and IBO belts, thinks his opponent, whom he also fought five years ago, now has the skills to match his strength.
"I am expecting him to be at least as determined as five years ago," said the Ukrainian, who beat Peter the last time the pair met despite being knocked down three times. "He is probably technically better because now he is trying to box and do different things.
"I am expecting Sam to be a more experienced fighter and experience you cannot buy in a shop. Sam Peter is a puncher. The rest of the guys we fought, we never really had to worry about punching power."
Having lost to Klitschko, Peter, nicknamed the 'Nigerian Nightmare', proceeded to lose his WBC crown to older brother Vitali when the latter returned following a four-year retirement in 2008.
Knockout
Although he is a stand-in opponent - first choice Alexander Povetkin of Russia failed to show up for a pre-fight news conference because of a sinus problem, prompting the IBF to order Klitschko's management to find a new opponent - Peter is aiming for a knockout.
A devout Christian, the 30-year-old has gained in speed and has also managed to retain his punching power while shedding weight.
"There is too much chatter about Klitschko getting a knockout victory," said Peter's coach Abel Sanchez.
"I think this is bullsh*t. It is going to be short fight and it is going to be Sam who'll get it by the sixth round," he predicted.
A win for Peter will certainly open up a division which has become moribund during years of domination by the Klitschko brothers.
The fight, which takes place at Eintracht Frankfurt's football stadium, will not be televised live in the United States, not even on pay-per-view.
Wladimir, 34, and Vitali, 39, hold four of the five world title belts with David Haye - who has turned his back on Wladimir's calls for a fight to instead take on fellow Brit Audley Harrison - holding the WBA crown.
Peter, has won 34 of his 37 bouts, 27 of them by knockout, and has been stopped but never counted out. Klitschko, meanwhile, has a 54-3-0 record.
