Is Vitali Is or Is Vitali Ain’t?
(Photo by Eddie Goldman)Here they are above, at the kickoff New York news conference on August 27. The contracts have been signed, the TV deals have been set, the media conference call has been held, and the words have flown. Supposedly, WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter will face WBC heavyweight champion “emeritus” Vitali Klitschko this Saturday, October 11, in Berlin, Germany.
But will their fists actually fly October 11? I wonder not what the odds are for who will win and how, but if there will be a fight and a winner at all.
We already recently had the Sept. 13 Nate Campbell-Joan Guzman fight cancelled when Guzman was too far over the lightweight limit, and the Oct. 4 Arthur Abraham-Raul Marquez fight cancelled when Abraham claimed he had the flu.
The brittle elder Klitschko is now 37 years old, hasn’t fought since December 2004, and had a few fights after that cancelled with Hasim Rahman, before retiring in 2005. Now he claims that he is all healed from his ailments and ready to fight.
But will their fists actually fly October 11? I wonder not what the odds are for who will win and how, but if there will be a fight and a winner at all.
We already recently had the Sept. 13 Nate Campbell-Joan Guzman fight cancelled when Guzman was too far over the lightweight limit, and the Oct. 4 Arthur Abraham-Raul Marquez fight cancelled when Abraham claimed he had the flu.
The brittle elder Klitschko is now 37 years old, hasn’t fought since December 2004, and had a few fights after that cancelled with Hasim Rahman, before retiring in 2005. Now he claims that he is all healed from his ailments and ready to fight.
This is boxing, so not only expect the unexpected, but count on it. At least Showtime also has the Antonio Tarver-Chad Dawson light heavyweight title fight from Las Vegas scheduled for their telecast in case the heavyweights fall through. And if the whole card goes bust, there’s always “The Grand Ole Opry” on GAC.
Labels: boxing, Eddie Goldman, Samuel Peter, Showtime, Vitali Klitschko
posted by Eddie Goldman @ 7:17 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Sadly, I feel this one will come off. I dread hearing some idiots make the case for Vitali being an all-time great after beating the overrated Peter, coming off a three and a half year layoff at age 37.
Peter weighed in at 253, the heaviest he has been in two years. Here are his recent weights and opponents:
April 28, 2006 - 256½ Julius Long
Sept. 2, 2006 - 257 James Toney
Jan. 6, 2007 - 249 James Toney
Oct. 6, 2007 - 250 Jameel McCline
March 8, 2008 - 250¾ Oleg Maskaev
He knocked out Long in the first, but looked most impressive against Toney in their second fight, and Maskaev, both at around 250.
And, for what it is worth, Vitali was 247, right around what he weighed for most of his last fights.
I realize that my experiences in the boxing business tend to make me see a backroom deal in almost every exchange, but does anyone else get the impression that Samuel Peter flew to Germany for the express purpose of delivering his title belt to Vitali Klitschko?
Post a Comment
<< Home