Can Peter save the heavyweight division or will Sykes upset the applecart?
 By Anthony Cocks, Site Editor (June 30, 2005)
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The jury is still out on heavyweight prospect Samuel Peter. His admirers cite his explosive power, natural strength and fan friendly style as reasons why they expect him to rise to the top, even going as far as to call him the second coming of Ike Ibeabuchi. Meanwhile Peter’s detractors point to his plodding style, suspect conditioning and lack of combination punching as the reasons why he will never ascend to the top of the heavyweight pile.
But with the depleted talent pool of heavyweights at the moment, everyone has a shot at being the champ… right?
Taurus Sykes certainly thinks so. And if he can do a number on Peter when they meet at the Events Center in Reno, Nevada on Saturday night for the USBA/NABF and NABA straps on a SHOWTIME telecast, he will gain worldwide recognition as a rising star in the heavyweight division. Sykes insists that people are sleeping on him but he says that after July 2 people will be talking about him rather than Peter.
“For this fight, I know I am being underestimated, but it is all good,” said Sykes, 23-1-1 (6), on a recent conference call with the media. “It has been like this my whole career. Everybody I have fought was supposed to beat me, but I came out on top. I am definitely looking to come out on this fight. I am training hard and doing everything I can possibly do to prepare myself. I know this is not a regular fight; this is a big fight for me. I understand the magnitude of this fight and I know what it brings as far as going to the next level and fighting bigger and other opponents.”
While Peter, a 2000 Olympian, has been groomed for success by his promoter Dino Duva, Sykes has toiled in relative anonymity since turning pro in 1998. This is despite the fact that Sykes has fought a similar level of opposition to Peter, including wins on Jovo Pudar, Friday Ahunanya and Talmadge Griffis.
Despite the war of words, which started long before the fight was signed when Sykes publicly derided Peter, the 24-year-old ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ insists he has no real beef with Sykes.
“I like him,” admitted Peter, 23-0 (20), during the conference call. “I do not hate anybody. This fight is just business. Everything I am saying is because business is business. I do not hate him.”
Sykes on the other hand has continued to berate Peter, telling him: “They are going to send you right back to Africa because they are not going to need you anymore. Just like they had those other Africans that they had high expectations about. Ask them where are they at. The minute you lose, you are out and they are going on to the next African.”
Harsh words no doubt, but Peter’s confidence remained unwavering. “I do not play games when I go to the ring. So I take my time, I am going to use my time. I am very fast, quick and nice. I am the next heavyweight champion of the world and there is no doubt about it.”
After two lackluster performances against Charles Shufford and Jovo Pudar last year, where Peter was extended the distance for only the second and third times respectively in his career, Peter etched himself in the minds of fight fans as the heavyweight to watch with his stunning one punch KO over longtime fringe contender Jeremy Williams in December ’04. Still, Sykes remains decidedly unimpressed.
“Sam Peter is, like I said, just an ordinary fighter,” explained Sykes. “He does not even think when he boxes, he just swings. I will outsmart him and outthink him. I am going to be a slick, crafty boxer. I know that he has never really fought anybody like that. Everybody he has fought is running from him, looking to get a check and leave. I am going to be there in the fight. I am coming to win. I come to fight and that is basically what I am going to do. Anything less than that would be uncivilized for me, especially for where I am coming from and where I am trying to go. I am prepared mentally and physically.
“I am waiting for this fight so that I can prove to the world all that hype about Sam Peter is not about that. All he is is a puncher and all he will do is try to come in and swing big and throw low punches. He does not throw any combinations. He does not do anything but throw one big punch at a time. I know what he is going to do. He is going to come right at me and try to knock me out because of my knockout ratio. He is going to think I cannot punch. But I am extremely strong for my division and he is going to know that and he is going to see that.”
30-year-old Sykes, who is trains out of Brooklyn under the guidance of Yoel Judah, claims that his punching power is being grossly underestimated despite only having 6 KO’s in his 23 victories.
“I am sure I will have the power to stop Peter,” said Sykes. “A boxer can be a slugger any time. I am not worried about him and his power. I am going to step right to him. I have a chin, defense and I have a jab. I am very confident in what I am going to do.”
The two combatants got into a heated exchange early in the conference call with the following entertaining exchange.
Peter: “On July 2, I will prove to you that I am one of the best heavyweights of all time. I am going to make that statement and I am going to be ready. I am going to implore you to be my sparring partner. You think you are smart, but it is not smart.”
Sykes: “If you think you are going to come in there and just swing and knock me out, you have got another think coming.”
Peter: “That is what I am going to do.”
Sykes: “I know you have a little fire going on, your name popping and all that, but I guarantee you after this fight, after I beat you, you are going to be exposed.”
Peter: “I am going to beat you before I knock you out. I am going to punish you before I knock you out.”
Will Peter prove to be the savior of the heavyweight division or will the unheralded Sykes live up to his claims and expose him? All will be revealed on SHOWTIME on July 2.
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