“For keeping me waiting, I’m going to be punishing him in rounds one, two and three and then I’ll knock him out in four.”
That was the pledge of WBC Interim-Heavyweight Champion Samuel Peter, who was at a lone star at a press conference, as WBC Champion Oleg Maskaev was a no-show.
Sam has had to fight James Toney twice during a year and a half wait, part of which involved Oleg overcoming injuries. The two finally clash in Cancun’s Bullring on March 8th. And Sam resplendent and regally decked out in purple and white flowing robes, with time on his hands, vowed to castigate the ageing Russian for tardiness.
Sam, who’s nickname is the Nigerian Nightmare promised a fight exceeding everyone’s wildest dreams,stating: “It’s going to be a great fight. I’ve been waiting for this for so long. He’s wasted my career because I could have unified all the championship belts by now. He’s been keeping me waiting and for doing that I’m going to punish him, and then I’m going to knock him out. No doubt about it four rounds or before that, he’s going to be gone. I’m going to send him back home! His punching will not be able to do anything to me, but I believe I’m going to drill a hole in his head.”
He also insisted: “I’m really determined, because I have to win this for Nigeria, Africa and Las Vegas.”
He also managed a dig at Oleg who won the title with a final round TKO against Hasim Rahman, claiming: “He stole the belt in Vegas, because the other guy was tired. If someone’s tired and you knock him out, your not really winning. You have to take the guy out while he’s still fresh, so I’m going to do this to prove I’m the real heavyweight champion of the world.”
Sam who also said he’s going to fight all out like a Mexican and he’s vowed to return to defend his title in Cancun.
Stacey McKinley who Sam’s trainer has worked with a whole variety of champions including Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer, Tony Tucker and Earnie Shavers. He explained that Sam’s still developing as a fighter and it’ll take several more bouts for him to realize his full potential. He’s stopped him occasionally switching to southpaw and is complimenting his massive power with a full range of skills. Concerning the three knockdowns against Jumbo Jameel McCline in his last fight, Stacey praised Sam for recovering well, fighting smart and for going on to win convincingly.
Stacey also paid tribute to Oleg Maskaev saying he’s a good fighter and he’s not being taken lightly, but his advanced age could well be a factor if the fight went to the later rounds, when pressure could be applied.
Sam’s co-promoter Dino Duva is equally glad that this fight is finally going to happen. He reflected: “It’s been a year and a half in the coming, ever since September of 06 when Samuel beat James Toney for the first eliminator. This is going to be the first step in Samuel Peter unifying the Heavyweight Championship of the World.
“Samuel’s done everything that’s been asked of him and now everything’s one the line on March 8th as finally we get Oleg Maskaev in the ring.”
Referring to Samuel’s own nightmare when he was decked three times early one by massive Jameel McCline Dino enthused: “What Samuel did in that fight against Jameel was nothing short of sensational. He got hit by a big two hundred and seventy pound heavyweight right on the button. Many fighters would have never even have got up. By Samuel got up, he persevered, he did what he had to do, and that’s what true champions do. They come back from adversity and win. In that fight Samuel showed the champion’s heart that he has.”
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