Wayne McCullough had high hopes of Samuel Peter saving the heavies - until he saw him on Saturday!
Last weekend WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev took on Interim champ Samuel Peter in a defence of his title.
Maskaev won the WBC belt when he avenged his November 1999 loss by knocking out Hasim Rahman in August 2006 in a back and forth battle.
With five losses on his record, Maskaev either fights well or lacks excitement to thrill the fans. He hasn't lost since March 2002 and with 12 wins in a row the fight with Peter was a big test for the 39-year-old.
Peter, at only 27 years old, has one defeat on his record to IBF and WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko in September 2005.
Peter had Klitschko down three times in that fight but still lost on points due to his stamina problems. He brings excitement and always comes to fight.
Struggling
Boxing fans around the world were hoping the Peter or Oleg Maskaev would go on to excite the division and bring some much needed life to the struggling weight class.
But there wasn't much excitement during this fight and while Peter showed glimpses of promise it wasn't enough.
With an inch separating them in height, Peter weighed in 7¾lbs heavier than Maskaev.
The pace was slow and neither fighter threw any meaningful combinations. Peter wobbled his opponent with a right hand, left hook in the third but Maskaev took it well and came back, with a minute to go in the round, rocking Peter with a left hook to the head.
Peter looked as though he'd punched himself out and yet the 12 round fight was only just beginning.
Peter was warned a few times for hitting Maskaev on the back of the head with a clubbing right hand but there were no point deductions.
Combination
The TV commentators suggested the reason Peter was hitting behind the head was because of the way Maskaev was putting his head down - figure that one out!
Peter landed a right to Maskaev's chin, two more shots to the back of the head and a left right left-right combination prompting the referee to stop the fight in the sixth round.
The commentators were trying to build the fight up saying it was a real heavyweight knockout but Maskaev never went down. Illegal shots and all, Peter picked up the WBC belt.
I believe Peter has improved since his defeat to Klitschko but he still tires quickly.
One punch in this division can instantly end things and Peter has that one punch. He is the first Nigerian born heavyweight champion but this weight class still needs a star.
Maybe David Haye can move up and become the shining light of this division...
