Klitschko Reclaims WBC Crown with TKO Win

By Michael Norby: In a stunning display that belied the anticipated effects of a nearly four year layoff, Vitali Klitschko dominated Nigerian powerhouse Samuel Peter on Saturday night to hoist aloft the WBC world heavyweight title at The O2 World Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Klitschko 36-2 (35) last fought in December, 2004 in a one-sided victory over a hapless Danny Williams in Las Vegas and, after a series of injuries forced him to abandon his boxing career ever since, there were questions on how he would handle the aggression and strength of Peter 30-2 (23).

Those questions were answered almost from the opening bell as the Ukrianian beautifully employed his greater reach by stuffing his jab into the dial of the Nigerian and unleashing volleys of hard, accurate right hands throughout the fight. Peter had no answer to his opponent’s simple brilliance and, round after round, the effects of Klitschko’s right hand became increasingly evident – punishing the body and breaking the will of Peter until he could take no more after the eighth round.

Klitschko towered above his opponent and thudded a string of sharp left hooks to begin the opening round and wobbled Peter with a jab/straight right hand sequence at the midway point. The Nigerian tried to find his way inside but Klitschko was sharp and continued to pick off the champion with both hands throughout an entirely one-sided round.

Things didn’t get much better for Peter in the second as Klitschko continued to author the dynamic of the fight from the outside. The Ukrainian kept his distance - landing his punches with incredible accuracy and wounding Peter with both hands. Peter was extremely sluggish and, apart from a couple of loosely thrown shots that found Klitschko’s chin without much effect, he looked to be out of his depth against the former champion.

This was a boxing clinic by Klitschko – simple but extremely effective and devoid of even a speck of rust that usually comes from such a long lay off. He continued to blast his plodding foe with hard, crisp combinations and single right hands throughout the third and punished the Nigerian with both hands in the fourth. By that round, in the absence of any sound offensive or defensive prowess by Peter, it was clear that the rhythm set by Klitschko would beat for however long the fight would last – not that long, surely.

Peter was weather worn and swollen by the fifth round and it looked increasingly unlikely that he had a momentum swinging punch in his arsenal. His corner implored him to fight, but when almost every punch that your opponent throws lands with such force, it is almost impossible to get into position to make something happen.

Indeed, the punishment continued in the sixth and seventh rounds as Klitschko easily avoided Peter’s lunging fists and responded with an array of laser guided missiles that brought the fight to the ‘how long before the towel’ stage. The Ukrainian had won every round in comfortable fashion and, after yet another painful, one-sided eighth, Peter and his corner wisely elected to call a halt to the contest.

"It was not an easy fight, it was not easy preparation. I have had so many injuries but now I am fit and healthy again,” said Klitschko, speaking to Setanta Sports .

"I have my skills, I can’t lose my skills. If I am fit and healthy I can show a good performance.

"If you want very much, have a big will and support from your team, family and my brother, I can do anything," added Klitschko.


All photos by Yuriy Nesterenko