Vitali Coming Back, Sam Peter Not Pleased
By Michael Woods January 24th, 2007Vitali Klitschko returns, WBC rewrites rules
Sam Peter has broken through the muddle and emerged as the young heavyweight boxer to watch. But it’s looking like he’ll be the one watching, as ESPN’s Dan Rafael reports that Big Brother Vitali Klitschko is coming back after two years away from fighting, and that leaves the massive Nigerian on the outside, looking in. And Peter’s steaming, according to manager Ivaylo Gotzev.
“Vitali will have to fight in court, not just in the ring,� Gotzev told TSS. “We have attorneys on it right now. We’ll file next week.�
Gotzev was under the impression that his man would be matched with Oleg Maskaev in a mandatory title bout within 90 days of the 28-1 Peter’s title shot eliminator against James Toney, which took place on January 6.
“The WBC is rewriting the rules as they go along,� he said. “It’s difficult to follow.�
Gotzev said he had no ire towards the 35-year-old Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs), though his comments said otherwise.
“This move, he’s showing his character,� Gotzev said. “He was once labeled a coward (for retiring after the ninth round because of shoulder injury against Chris Byrd in 2000). He doesn’t want to face a top challenger, so he’s going after the lame duck, Maskaev. This move solidifies his legacy.�
Just yesterday, Manny Steward said he hadn’t heard anything conclusive, beyond rumors, of Big Brother’s return. I emailed Vitali this afternoon to get his firsthand take, but hadn’t yet heard back. He offered his comments and reasoning for his return to active action to Rafael.
“I am returning to the ring to get my WBC heavyweight championship back. In November 2005, due to a serious knee injury, I retired without having lost the WBC belt in the ring. At the WBC gala event on Dec. 20, 2005 in Cancun, Mexico, the WBC designated me as ‘WBC Champion Emeritus’ and assured me that whenever I was ready to return, I would become the immediate mandatory challenger for the title. I’m back, and I have requested that the WBC sanction a bout between me and Oleg Maskaev. I look forward to reclaiming my title, and want to thank everyone who has been so supportive during my short retirement from the ring.â€?
That would not include one Sam Peter…
Stay tuned for the “fun� as everyone lawyers up…
January 24th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
I understand that Klitschko was assured that when he was ready to return to the ring that he would be awarded a title shot by the WBC. But here is my question: Where does this leave Samuel Peter?? He clearly beat James Toney and earned the right to face Oleg Maskaev for the WBC belt. yes, Klitschko is the “WBC Champion Emeritus” but Peter is the bona fide number one conetnder. I think the WBC should have Peter and Klitschko get in the ring or let Peter face Maskaev for the WBC title this summer and then have Klitschko face the winner of that fight. Things like this make the heavyweight division disgraceful and shameless to watch.
January 24th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Ok, here’s the deal…I dont care what the WBC says, Klits needs to be a man and let Sam have the first crack that he deserves. As long as Peter understands that he MUST face Vitali in the next fight, i see this as a no brainer…Peter earned it. Champion Emeritus can wait one fight to make his comeback…
January 24th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
I thought Sam Peter beat James Toney not once but twice for the “WBC Title” eliminator. Oh well been a fan of Boxing for almost 40 years after a while I have gotten used to this kind of stuff. What else can I say or add “Oh Well”. May the next in line speak there case.
January 25th, 2007 at 4:46 am
Couldn’t agree more with the comments already posted, just wanted to add yet another in a show of support for boxing (WBC) to do THE RIGHT THING (for once) and allow Peter his MUCH deserved shot at the title. I don’t have a big problem with Vitali getting next crack at the winner of Peter/Maskaev as I’m sure Peter would not have a problem facing Vitali if he should be the victor of the Maskaev title bout. This is the right thing to do. And yes, Vitali should be a gracious sportsman and let Peter have his title fight with Maskaev, THEN fight the winner, that’s fair enough given Vitali was promised, but to rob Peter of his deserved crack at it…not right at all.
January 25th, 2007 at 7:39 am
Perhaps if HBO spoke up and refused to bid for the Klit fight then WBC might listen. Okay Showtime might benefit in the short term but at least a point would be made. This is disgraceful, can’t Peter’s people sue?
January 25th, 2007 at 7:41 am
WBC is destroying boxing with their politics. Boxing fans are denied good fights and number one contenders are denied their shots to title fights. Vitali is a coward. He wants to go after the weakest heavyweight champion. If Vitali gets to fight Oleg Maskaev and wins, he will do everything possible to avoid Peter. What WBC is trying to do is pure injustice. Let Vitali wait and fight the winner of Peter/Maskaev fight. Peter has earned the right to fight for the title. Period.
January 25th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
This is bull. Why in the hell is the WBC trying to screw with Sam Peter. I don’t like Peter not nearly as much as Toney but give the guy his damn title shot. He won the eliminator twice and isn’t going to get a title shot. This is why the WBC is the worst. The WBC has the stupid open scoring policy and not giving a mandatory challenger his title shot. I agree with all of you fellas. If V. Klitschko fights Maskaev and wins Klitschko will duck Peter. I don’t even know if V. Klitschko will even beat Maskaev. V. Klitschko hasn’t fought in over 2 years. Klitschko hasn’t beaten anyone. And lost to Chris Byrd and Lennox Lewis. Byrd had one week to prepare and Lewis had less than two weeks to prepare. But Peter should get his title shot definitely. I agree with all of you fellas.
January 25th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Sammy Pete/Dino Duva should be steamed. Jus’ how many WBC sanctioning fees is enough? Three?!? But can you blame V.Klits? I mean…which Heavyweight is actually ducking a shot at Oleg? Futher…should this Oleg vs. Vitali match-up actually come to fruition, I formally predict that V.Klits will be 1 and done. Try to wear a Heavyweight strap at the same time as Wlad, snap a few pho-togs for the family album; then Vitali will go back to getting beat in Russian politics.
January 25th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
This sh** makes me so angry. What the hell type of deal is this? A rotten one. So the heavyweight champion or any champion for that matter can walk away or limp away in Klitschko case and just come back and they will hold his shot at the title. What if he had been away for 10 years? Other times fighters have legitimate injuries also for a much shorter time than two years and they get stripped without getting first shot at “their title”. This stinks to high heaven. Give Peter his shot. This is what hurts boxing among many other shady goings on.
January 25th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Any talk of Samuel Peters being somehow slighted by the return to boxing of Vitali Klitschko is unfounded, Klitschko’s return to boxing is a positive boost to boxing anyway you look at it. Fairness in business, least of all boxing is at best wishful thinking, it’s about the $$$
Vitali’s less talented brother came off the canvass (twice) to wobble back to Emanual Steward’s corner with a descision over Peters, and I don’t think beating a great middle weight well past his prime twice warrents much other than James Toney was far and away the biggest name Peters fought. James has never been a true heavyweight, he was at his best 60lbs & 20 years ago. Today’s Toney is no real feather in Peters cap. Vitali, on the other hand was clearly giving Lennox Lewis all he could handle, before Lewis busted him up and clearly was dominating Byrd before a fluke injury saved Chris. We all know he’s the better of the two Klitschko’s, that should count for something.
I would like to see Peters give Chris Byrd a fight, just to see if Sam could equal Ike’s destruction of Byrd. If I was Oleg, I’d bank a couple of payday fights against lesser opponets, and make Peters & Klitschko fight each other before I had to risk the beating he will most likely take against either. I mean really, it’s not like the heavyweight division is going to escape Peters and the Klitschko’s any time soon. Welcome back Vitalie and best of luck to both you and Sam. Real boxing fans are glad to have you back.;
January 26th, 2007 at 4:35 am
Timothy - The WBC promised Peter the title shot, took it away, gave it back and now took it back again. In business, it’s about the money first and foremost but business dealings like these wind up going to court. Good - maybe this time someone will put the WBCrooked out of business for good.
It’s not a matter of whether or not Vitali is good for boxing or whether or not Peter deserves to be numero uno. He is and he paid TWO sets of sanctioning fees in fights that were supposed to net him title shots. This alone seems to be grounds for a lawsuit. You pay your fees in an eliminator, you win and then you’re eliminated. This isn’t business, this is pure GREED on the part of the WBC. Nothing really unusual here now is there?
January 26th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
My question is what does Wladimir think of all this? If his opinion is the same as the critics then maybe Vitali will step back and allow Peter to fight Maskaev as it should happened. I mean Wladimir and Vitali are close and if Wladimir doesn’t agree with his brothers actions, maybe he can talk some sense into him and convince to step back and face the winner of the Maskaev-Peter fight. Lets wait and see what happens.
January 26th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Scott Mallon…well said. I couldn’t agree with you more.
These sanctioning organizations are ruining boxing with all their political rhetoric and made up titles to collect sanctioning fees. The Ring Magazine champion is the only one to recognize because there is no financial gain to the magazine to rank a fighter or name him champion. Their title is won or lost in the ring by fighters with actual career credentials. You won’t find Ray Austin or Sultan Ibragimov in The Ring’s top ten heavyweights, but both are mandatory challengers to a heavyweight belt. What did either of them do to merit a title shot??? They had a draw with each other.
January 26th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Right is right. A couple or three weeks ago people weren’t condenming Toney’s skills. Many were giving Toney a good chance of beating Peter. Now that Peter has beat him convincingly, Toney is not that much anymore. It is always that way when you fight an old fighter. But until that old fighter is eliminated they are a viable force. Actually Peter was in a no win situation and he did what he had to do. Now the WBC should be made to do what they have to do - GIVE PETER HIS SHOT!
January 27th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
It would have been nice to hear everyone above be as vocal and emphatic when IBF #1 and mandatory (after defeating Maurice Harris and David Tua in an elimination tournament) got thrown under the bus so that Lennox Lewis could destroy an even then useless Mike Tyson to the delight of the networks and the fans. At least Byrd beat a guy like Tua who himself had defeated Nicholson in another box off - Peter has gotten two wins over a bloated middleweight (questionable in the first fight - just take a look at Peter’s own face when the decision was being announced) who’s status in the rankings was more due to Goossen’s manueverings than quality wins. Rules are rules and fair is fair - it was far worse when it happened to Byrd, and no one seemed to be outraged then so why now?
Peter has won the right to fight for the title, then when and against whom will be determined. He doesn’t have a right to fight Maskaev. The last WBC mandatory was fought in August ‘06, and the Champion has a year to defend. Peter will get his shot - so what if it isn’t “next”. Perhaps we should look at Klitschko like a lucrative optional defense against a guy who never lost the title in the ring. In other sports, it is commonplace to say that the starter doesn’t lose his job to injury - why shouldn’t Klitschko be afforded the same, especially when he was promised “next” when he stepped down should he ever come back, and that was when Sam Peter was still toiling against also rans. It will be interesting - just wanted to present a couple of other ways to look at this rather than just crying a river of tears for Peter, who seems to be a nice guy and a decent fighter and good luck to him.
January 28th, 2007 at 12:10 am
He was promised a shot at Maskaev and thus is due. I’d love to see this go to court because I think once again, the WBCrooked will find itself deep in debt - hopefully permanently.
Nothing against Vitali, he’s got every right to make a comeback. But the WBC’s Emeritus title stinks and my guess is it won’t hold up in a court of law. You can’t promise two guys a title shot and take money from one of them and then not give it to the one who paid. Rubbish.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Fact is, Vitali was made a promise before Peter was made a promise. Perhaps, in hindsight, the WBC should have reminded Peter of the Emeritus rule when it made him the mandatory for Maskaev. Or perhaps they did. Regardless, the one’s who really get robbed are the fans. What fan can, or wants to for that matter, keep up with all of the politics in boxing? It’s no wonder boxing has all but dropped off the face of the earth to your average sports fan.
February 1st, 2007 at 4:17 pm
I don’t believe Lennox Lewis is an Emeritus champion. Why is it he defeated Klitschko, did far more than Klitschko and yet he isn’t an Emeritus champion? Seems a bit too convenient for me.
February 16th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Scott - I was unaware of any prior legal committments to Samuel Peters by any one associated with a title shot. Thanks for the update, sounds like one for the courts to sort out.
Legality and politics aside, the man holding the belt, who’s stepping into the ring to defend it, has the last word on who he fights next. Bowe tossed a belt, either out of disgust at the sanctioning body or fear of Lewis, but in the end, the Champ fights who “he” chooses, not who the fans want to see him fight, or who the political structures around him want to see him fight.
Any fighter who is blessed with a victory in a championship fight and awarded a belt, is obligated to finacial backers, his family, and yes to himself to make as much money as he can.
March 9th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Just the idea of an unactive fighter being able to come out of retirement after unsuccessfully trying to run for political and side swipe an ACTIVE fighter for a title fight is beyond me. Especially after two years of inactivity and him making overtly known that he was retiring. What ticket or law should be so good enough that would enable him to come out of no where and just rearrange things after Peters rightfully earned a title shot by fighting Tony twice in the recent year. I never knew you could save a championship title fight. And Oleg Maskaev should know better, He had to obtain his mandatory rights to fight Hasim and win the title. To make clear this situation or event was similar to a basketball tournament. Hasim and Oleg were to fight and the winner would fight the winner of the Peters and Toney fight and so forth. Now it would be fair to say that Vitali has not even enlisted in the tournament let alone competed in the simi-finals however there is a law in boxing that says he can overlook the other competers that have been competing and go right to the finals. If that’s the case why don’t all past champions come out of retirement and side swipe other active fighters for championship fights. Deals were RECENTLY made and fees were paid to get this Oleg and Peters fight going. And now Vitali gets to change this whole picture after 2 years of not being associated with the boxing business. No way.