Vitali Klitschko champion again

Sometimes they do come back. Vitali Klitschko returned after nearly four years out of the ring to regain the WBC heavyweight title with as one-sided a beating of Samuel Peter as you will ever see. The defending champion from Nigeria was pulled out at the end of the eighth round having received a non-stop pummelling from the Ukrainian.

The win confirmed that the dream of the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, to hold world heavyweight titles simultaneously was realised. Wladimir even brought his WBO, IBF and IBO belts for an impromptu photocall together. There's confidence for you.

Peter, 28, just could not cope with Klitschko's size. The former champion toyed with Peter from the opening bell, spearing him with jabs and loading up on big hooks.

The WBC's open scoring saved Peter from any more punishment. The biggest surprise at the end of eight rounds was that one judge had given the champion a round, but the announcement meant that Peter needed a knockout and that never seemed likely.

Comments

[martin]

Peters was pathetic-which judge gave him a round? A complete shut out as far as i could see, do everyone a favour and retire.

[Phill Arrowsmith]

I agree with you about corners who are too gung-ho with their fighter's health and, to a point about boxers knowing when they are beaten, but I can't understand anyone in such a significant fight offering no offence whatsoever. It's not like Peter was beaten to a pulp. Yes he'd taken some shots but he'd never really been rocked. If he'd given it one last go and tried to knock Klitschko's head off, THEN called it a day fair enough but there was never any real attempt to win the fight.
I think his retirement was a very good advert for NOT having an open scoring system.

[Ron Lewis]

Phill, From where I was, ringside, I couldn't see it was him that quit, I was told that afterwards and put it in my main newspaper report, then saw it on the telly when I got home.
I don't really have a problem with boxers quitting, I generally wish more corners would pull boxers out when they are getting beaten. It had certainly finished as a contest when the fight had stopped.

[Phill Arrowsmith]

You're wrong on one point Ron. The corner never pulled Peter out. He quit. They were giving their instructions while he was simply saying Stop. He quit on his stool in the most shameful manner. At least some good has come out of it though - Clinton Woods is no longer the holder of the 'Meekest defence of a title in boxing history' crown!

[Crawjo]

Peter's performance was just awful. He never even tried to get inside, which would have been his only chance to win the fight. I don't think the referee had to break the two fighters until the final round.