Sam Peter vs Oleg Maskaev: A Fight For the Fans


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Sam Peter vs Oleg Maskaev: A Fight For the Fans - Part III Boxing

By Realtorchill (March 8, 2008) Doghouse Boxing (Photo © David Martin Warr/DKP)

Last week, I thanked, in advance, Gary Shaw for putting together Vazquez/Marquez III. Despite not receiving much support from his peers in the boxing world, Shaw's card was a sell out at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. More importantly, Vazquez and Marquez did their part in delivering a scintillating fight for the fans at the outdoor venue and those watching on the Showtime network. From ringside, I felt that Vazquez earned a 114-111 win. I have to admit I was very puzzled at the post fight press conference when Team Marquez vehemently protested the judges' decision. I agreed with their assessment that the low blow(s) were, in fact, not low. But

they were wrong about the 12th round knockdown. Marquez protected his fall by grabbing the ropes, so the referee was correct in his ruling. After viewing the Showtime broadcast, I now understand how Raffy could be so upset. In my opinion, he won more of the early rounds than I had initially given him credit for. Upon further review, he deserved a close, but clear victory. I look forward to seeing Vazquez/Marquez 4 in 2009.

Today, I want to offer my thanks to Don King. He is doing everything we should expect out of a promoter. DKP is providing a meaningful and potentially exciting heavyweight title fight, an intriguing lightweight championship bout, a solid undercard for the fans in attendance, a beautiful venue (you can't beat Cancun in March), all in conjunction with HBO Championship Boxing. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get the taste of Klitschko/Ibragimov out of my mouth. I guarantee to all fight fans that Sam Peter will not be looking to bat Maskaev's hand down or run around in the huge ring in Mexico. The 250 pound Nigerian will be throwing bombs and trying to provide the type of excitement that was once delivered by Mike Tyson.

I can't offer a prediction on this fight, because I truly don't know what to expect from Oleg. If Maskaev is half as frightened as he appeared to be after finding out Peter was his mandatory during the Fall of 2006, he might fight more tentatively than Wladimir and Sultan combined. However, I'll give the 243 pound Russian the benefit of the doubt. I was ringside when Maskaev displayed heart, grit, determination, and power in knocking out Hasim Rahman to gain the WBC belt. I'm confident we'll get another tremendous heavyweight title fight tonight and the world will receive a champion it can rally around.

Juan Diaz vs. Nate Campbell is a perfect appetizer for Peter/Maskaev. Campbell is a little slicker than most of Diaz' previous opponents, so he'll pose a problem for the first few rounds, but it's hard for me to imagine him keeping up with Juan's work rate. I'm not sure if Diaz can score the knockout, but I expect him to win. Both fighters made weight on their first attempts (Diaz 134, Campbell 134.5). Part of the non-televised undercard includes John Ruiz vs. Jameel McCline. Ruiz, who promises to fight in a new and entertaining fashion weighed in at 233 with "Big Time" McCline coming in at 268. The winner expects to receive a title shot later in the year. Jose Luis Castillo was slated for a 140 pound title eliminator, but he failed to make weight. I'm sure Gary Shaw is not surprised.