Vitali Domination Forces Peter to Quit

Nearly four years of inactivity proved insignificant to former champ Vitali Klitschko (36-2, 35 KOs), as the Ukrainian giant easily beat Samuel Peter (30-2, 23 KOs) into submission over eight one-sided rounds.

In round one, the towering Klitschko immediately let Peter know he meant business by wobbling the Nigerian Nightmare with lead left hooks. The straight right hand was also on display as the Ukrainian measured him effortlessly from the outside.

After looking worried in the corner, Peter fared no better in round two, now being countered repeatedly with lead left hooks whenever he lunged in. Adding to Peter’s woes, the increasingly confident Vitali began clubbing the American heavyweight with triple jabs.

Already laboring by the third, the WBC titlist’s sluggish punch output was reflected most in the lack of snap on his jab, which he was pushing out and leaving himself open to be countered. Dr. Iron Fist remained composed and continued his best Ali impersonation by throwing jabs and lead hooks from his hip on a hapless Peter. For all the shots he took, all WBC champ could show for it was a partially blocked left hook to the body.

Round four saw Peter get the worst early on of a jabbing contest, and get countered by a monstrous counter right over a wild left hook. A swelling and bleeding Peter became desperate and launched a clumsy bull rush at Klitschko, only to see the former champ coolly take a step back and deflect every blow.

Klitschko utilized rounds six and seven to let his jab almost exclusively bust up the fading Peter, who had become the nothing more than a punching bag. Wary of applying pressure because of the hard jabs crashing into his nose, Peter stayed perilously at the end of Vitali’s range and was punished with straight and overhand rights for his trouble.

In between rounds, Samuel Peter’s corner implored him to press the fight and throw combinations to stifle the beating he was taking. But the fighter’s looks of resignation and helplessness were clear in detailing that it was not a matter of if, but when Peter would succumb to the punishment.

Sensing weakened prey, Klitschko stormed out for round eight throwing an impressive mix of firepower: double jab-straight right combos, double lead left hooks, and the occasional counter right uppercut.

Taking another drubbing, Peter with both eyes swollen and mouth spurting blood returned to the corner looking for a way out.

Seated before the ninth, Peter shook his head multiple times while his trainer tried to give advice for the next round. With a microphone right below his fighter, the trainer asked Peter to repeat his mumbled statement, to which Peter replied “no more…stop it.”

By quitting on his stool, Peter relinquishes the WBC heavyweight title to Vitali Klitschko. The win also makes Vitali the first fighter to win a title in his first fight back after nearly four years, and the first to hold a world title simultaneously with a sibling in the same weight class.

Last week, I stated that the Vitali Klitschko of four years ago would have defeated Peter, but little did I or anyone suspect that same Vitali would enter the ring this past Saturday. Klitschko showed great accuracy, stamina, and ring generalship to box circles around his younger foe.

Unfortunately the glory may be short-lived, as the more exciting Klitshcko at 37 years-old hasn’t decided whether he will continue fighting. Previously, Vitali expressed a main goal of wanting to hold a title along with his brother, which he has now achieved. Plus, there is no chance to unify if he stays since the brothers have vowed never to fight each other.

For Peter, the loss marks another setback when faced against his best competition. And as pointed out by the Showtime announce team, the loss again reveals Peter’s huge liabilities when paired against a larger foe, as seen with Wladimir Klitschko, Jameel McCline, and now Vitali Klitschko.

Dawson’s Speed Befuddles Tarver to Decision

Chad Dawson’s words couldn’t shut Antonio Tarver’s mouth these past few months, but last Saturday the speed of his hands sure did.

Executing a game-plan based on lightning fast combinations and a consistent body attack, former WBC champ Chad Dawson (27-0, 17 KOs) outworked cagey veteran Antonio Tarver (27-5, 19 KOs) to a unanimous decision win.

For the first two rounds Tarver struggled to find any rhythm against the younger Dawson, and was visibly shaken by the young lion’s five to six punch hook combinations to the body. In addition, the power behind Bad Chad’s punches physically knocked Tarver back throughout the rounds and prevented the loquacious pugilist from mounting significant counter attacks.

In round three Tarver found Dawson’s rhythm and timed him with an overhand left. Dawson in his zeal to respond was then stunned by a sneaky uppercut. Now cautious of being caught again, Tarver secured the rest of the round on punch volume as the challenger remained in a defensive shell.

Dawson got back on track in rounds four and five, showcasing dazzling hook counters to confuse the champion. Along with cracking shots downstairs, Dawson again would knock Tarver off-balance with his counter hooks to easily take the rounds.

Taking round six off, Dawson unwisely spent the round goading Tarver to attack him, a possible receipt for the months of trash-talking he endured. Even though this made have given Dawson some emotional gratification, his abysmal punch activity allowed Tarver to steal another round.

However, in rounds seven through nine Dawson kept Tarver guessing with unpredictable, explosive combinations. The spontaneous assaults keep Tarver for committing completely to his punches, as he became more concerned on whenever he would be strafed to the body with five to eight blinding punches.

Still, Dawson’s inexperience gave Tarver late chances to get back into the fight. Partly due to fatigue and concentration lapses, Tarver was able to outhustle Dawson in rounds ten and eleven. Here, Dawson again lowered his punch output too much against Tarver’s consistent work-rate.

Aware he was far behind, Tarver started the final round desperate for the knockout. Throwing caution to the wind, the 2-time Roy Jones conqueror pounced on Dawson looking to land a homerun shot.

Unfortunately for Tarver, Dawson’s superior hand speed would again be the deciding factor.

Over a lazy Tarver setup jab, Dawson fired a quick counter left hook that spun Tarver, dropping him for a balance knockdown.

Secure that the definitive stamp was put on the contest, Dawson cautiously finished the round and his best mainstream win to date.

Scores for the unanimous decision win for Chad Dawson were 118-109 and 117-110 twice.

In the post-fight interview, Dawson gave credit to Floyd Mayweather Jr., who called him before the fight to express his support.

“He gave me a call in the locker room and told me I’m the best fighter in the world hands down,” Dawson explained. “Just to get a call from Floyd Mayweather to big me up like that was a big confidence booster for me. I was thinking about that all in the locker room. I knew I had to come out and put on a show.”

With the win, Chad Dawson now becomes a viable option for the winner of Roy Jones-Joe Calzaghe next month.

For Antonio Tarver, the 39 year-old finds himself having to rebuild once again, and may want to consider engaging in a rubber-match with fellow veteran Glen Johnson.

Floyd Mayweather Shoots Down Comeback Rumors

In attendance at the Dawson-Tarver fight, former pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather addressed rumblings that his return to the ring is inevitable.

“No, I’m just here to support young fighters like Chad Dawson and all the fighters out there right now,” Money May clarified. “You have MMA out there now. I just wanna wish all the fighters out there the best. Absolutely [I’m retired].”

Holyfield Gets Another Title Shot Against Valuev

Evander Holyfield, who turns 46 this month, has been offered a shot against WBA champion Nikolai Valuev in December.

According to Valuev’s management team, an offer has been sent to the former champ and is pending finalization.

Holyfield, a three time heavyweight champion, last fought October 13, 2007, losing a lopsided decision to Sultan Ibragimov.

Despite fears for the health and reports that his speech is already slurred, it’s expected that Holyfield will move forward with his latest attempt at another heavyweight title.

Throwback Fighter of the Week: Carlos Zarate

Possessing power rarely seen at the lower weights, former bantamweight champion Carlos Zarate was one of the most exciting knockout artists of the 1970s.

Turning pro in 1970, Zarate quickly made history as the only boxer to have 20 or more knockouts in a row after starting his career with 23 successive knockouts.

By 1976, he earned a WBC title shots against fellow Mexican Rodolfo Martinez, who he knocked out in eight rounds.

After three successful defenses, Zarate met fellow undefeated Mexican and WBA bantamweight champion in 1977 in what was dubbed “The Battle of the Z Boys.” Hated rivals, Zarate emerged victorious from the grudge match shootout with a 4^th round TKO.

The following year Zarate didn’t prove as lucky moving up to Super Bantamweight against another rival in Wilfredo Gomez. Being too small to hurt the naturally bigger Gomez, Zarate suffered his first loss via 5^th round TKO. The fight is also notable to pitting two fighters who at the time of their meeting had the highest knockout percentages in history between them: Gomez at 21-0, 21 KOs and Zarate at 55-0, 54 KOs.

Another setback came the following year, as Zarate suffered a heart-breaking split decision loss to Lupe Pintor despite flooring his gym-mate in the 4^th.

After the loss, Zarate retired for five years before launching a comeback in 1985.

Despite a string of 11 straight KOs including one of over #1 contender Richard Savage, Zarate ultimately lost his biggest contests against WBC Super Bantemweight champ Jeff Fenech in 1987 (4^th round TD on accidental butt) and in 1988 against Daniel Zaragoza via 10^th round stoppage.

Retiring for good after the defeat, Zarate joined the International Boxing Hall of Fame during the 1990s.

His final record stands at 66-4, 63 KOs.

Zarate vs. Zamora