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Wladimir has score to settle
2010-09-09 18:59
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Frankfurt - Wladimir Klitschko has a score to settle when he meets Samuel Peter in Frankfurt, Germany, on Saturday night.
The last time they met, Peter knocked Klitschko down three times before losing on points. Now Klitschko defends his IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight belts against the Nigerian.
: Klitschko won their 2005 fight by a close but unanimous points decision. The Ukrainian has since improved his record to 54-3, with 48 knockouts. Peter, nicknamed the Nigerian Nightmare, stands at 34-3; 27.
Klitschko, five years younger than his brother Vitali, has stopped eight of his nine challengers since beating Peter.
At the time of their first fight, Peter was undefeated in 24 fights with 21 wins inside the distance. He was considered as the future of the heavyweight division. However, he has failed to realise his potential.
After losing to Klitschko, he beat James Toney twice and knocked out Jameel McCline and Oleg Maskaev before facing Vitali Klitschko in 2008. He was badly beaten and stopped in eight rounds. In his next fight he was outpointed by Eddie Chambers.
Since then, he has remained unbeaten in four bouts against ordinary heavyweights: Marcus McGhee (22-16), Ronald Bellamy (14-9-4), Gabe Brown (18-12-4) and Nagy Aguilera (15-2). None of them can be considered a world title contender.
Despite being down three times in their first fight, Klitschko should have enough class to win again; possibly on a late stoppage.
On the undercard, Jonathan Banks (24-1-1) meets Saul Montana (51-15) in a heavyweight bout.
In Las Vegas, also on Saturday night, Yuriokis Gamboa (18-0) and Orlando Salido (34-10-2) meet in a clash for the IBF and WBA featherweight belts.
In a ten-round lightweight bout, Anthony Peterson faces Brandon Rios.
At Houghton-le-Spring in the United Kingdom, Steve Molitor (32-1) defends IBF junior featherweight belt against Jason Booth (35-5).
In Mexico City, Erik Morales (49-6) continues his comeback when he faces Willie Limond (33-2) in a fight for the vacant WBC Continental Americas light-welterweight title.