CBCSports.ca’s Chris Iorfida pulls no punches on the action inside the squared circle and in the world of pro boxing.
Heavyweight Peter piqued
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 | 09:08 PM ET
Things will become more clearer in the heavyweight division on Saturday night when Samuel Peter and Oleg Maskaev square of, in all of places, Cancun.
Without getting it into the Byzantine and absurd machinations of boxing sanctioning organization politics, both fighters have a claim on the World Boxing Council strap due to Maskaev's inactivity due to a back injury (funny, Dennis Rappaport used to manage another white heavyweight who didn't fight much - Gerry Cooney).
Peter has been lashing out in recent days, perceiving that Maskaev has been ducking him.
He's also probably upset about his last performance. With Maskaev pulling out late, Peter laid an egg against substitute Jameel McCline at Madison Square Garden in October. The Nigerian found himself on the canvas three times, although he managed to win nearly every other minute of the fight.
McCline is a massive man, clocking in at about 270 pounds. It's hard to imagine Maskaev, who has been stopped more than once, holding up to too many rounds of Peter salvos.
A Peter win would (hopefully) set up an intriguing rematch against Wladimir Klitschko. The pair met in 2005, with Klitschko surviving three knockdowns but staggering Peter badly in the final round to win a 12-round decision.
Such a meeting would also allow someone to claim with real certainty that they were the true heavyweight champion, which really hasn't happened since Canadian Lennox Lewis retired. Ruslan Chagaev is the WBA champ, but would be a big underdog against either Peter or Klitschko.
One man who could bring excitement and freshness to the division is Briton David Haye, a six-foot-four cruiserweight. By all accounts, Haye's fight Saturday with fellow cruiserweight titleist Enzo Maccarinelli of Italy will be his last before moving up to heavyweight. Haye has already fought once at heavyweight, knocking out his opponent in one round.
Lightweights and demigods
The Peter-Maskaev undercard will feature a terrific lightweight fight between undefeated champion Juan 'Baby Bull' Diaz and Nate Campbell. Diaz enjoyed a terrific 2007, using a relentless attack to essentially force former titleholders Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz to quit on their stools. Diaz doesn't have one-punch power, but he swarms opponents with an assortment of sharp, stinging blows.
Campbell, the loquacious veteran, last week uttered one of the best pre-fight quotes in recent memory.
"I don't want to sound conceited or overconfident but Juan Diaz is not a demigod," he said. "A demigod is half mortal, half god and I just don't see that. Unless my team and I have been in this sport too long - or not long enough - we are seeing a lot of hype."
At 35, the talented but inconsistent 'Galaxy Warrior' as he calls himself, knows this is his last chance. But it's hard to see someone who was stopped twice by Robbie Peden overcoming Diaz, who is 11 years younger than his challenger.
Marquez, Vazuqez should part ways
In the aftermatch of the sensational and grueling third fight between Mexican junior featherweights Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez, many boxing writers are weighing on whether the rivals should meet for a fourth time.
If they do meet, I would like to see it not happen for a long time, at least 18 months. Preferably, I'd rather see it not happen at all. The warriors have given the fans enough, in my opinion, and the exacting toll of their bouts is a bit worrisome.
Canadian Steve Molitor, Ponce De Leon, and for the bigger Vazquez, Robert Guerrero and Steven Luevano, are all attractive opponents.
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About the Author
Chris Iorfida has been writing about professional and amateur sports since joining CBC Sports in 2002. Previously he worked as a producer for the Team Sports Radio Network and has also written for national publications Strategy, Chart and Exclaim.
A passionate boxing observer since 1982, a crazy year for the sport, Chris has never missed a major bout and has travelled to Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and of course in Canada to attend fights in person.
Recent Posts
- Path clear for Molitor; big fights on horizon
- Thursday, September 25, 2008
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- Monday, July 28, 2008
- Cotto-Margarito battle promises to be action-packed
- Thursday, July 24, 2008
- Quebec boxer Alcine faces tough test
- Thursday, July 10, 2008
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- Friday, June 27, 2008
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