BERLIN, Sept 10: Challenger Samuel Peter turns 30 on Saturday with world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko vowing to give him a quick trip to the canvas as a birthday present in their world title bout.
“In the heavyweight division, things can happen fast,” said the 34-year-old Klitschko, who presented the Nigerian with a birthday cake ahead of Saturday’s fight in Frankfurt.
“A knock-out can happen at any moment. This is your special day, so you can touch the belt and hold it, but no more,” he said, waving his IBF and WBO belts under the challenger’s nose.
This will be Klitschko’s 58th fight and his record of 48 knock-outs in 54 wins with three defeats is impressive.
Peter has already fought — and lost — to both Wladimir Klitschko and elder brother Vitali and has 27 knock-outs from 34 wins with three defeats.
He lost his WBC heavyweight title when he was knocked out by Vitali after a single successful defence in October 2008 in Berlin having previously lost a IBF and WBO eliminator to Wladimir in 2005.
Five years ago, the younger Klitschko hit the canvas three times in Atlantic before he won a unanimous decision against the African fighter and the champion will want a much more clinical performance.
This will be the Nigerian’s chance for revenge, but British bookmakers William Hill have given him odds of 6/1 to beat Klitschko.
“I’ll give the answer in the ring. I will let my fists do the talking and I will win the title, this fight will be a classic,” said Peter at his training camp in California.
More than 50,000 fight fans are expected to pack the Franfurt stadium on Saturday.
“We thank Wladimir for the cake,” said Peter’s manager Ivaylo Gotsev.
“We have put it on ice until Saturday when Samuel will receive his true gift — the world title.” His coach Abel Sanchez even predicts the Nigerian will knock out Klitschko in the sixth round.
But the champion is untroubled as he prepares for the ninth defence of his IBF title.
“Such comments I have often heard before,” said the 34-year-old.
Klitschko had been due to fight mandatory challenger, the former Olympic champion Alexander Povetkin, but the Russian refused to sign the contract and was stripped of his status as the IBF’s number one challenger.
Klitschko’s trainer Emanuel Stewart sees no problems for the champion.
“I have more respect for Samuel than I did five years ago, but we will still win because Vladimir is at the height of his career,” said Stewart.—AFP