Samuel Peter vs. Vitali Klitschko

After winning the WBC title against Oleg Maskaev, Samuel Peter entered into negotiations for a mandatory defence against former champion Vitali Klitschko, who was returning from an almost four year retirement. Klitschko had been set for a tune up bout with Jameel McCline in September 2007 before a back injury forced him to withdraw. In May 2008 an agreement was reached for the two to face off at O2 World Berlin in October.{{cite web |author1=Associated Press |title=October-fest: Klitschko's comeback fight vs. Peter finalized |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3548470 |website=espn.com |publisher=ESPN |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=22 August 2008}} Peter's only previous defeat came at the hands of Vitali's younger brother Wladimir in September 2005.{{cite web |title=Klitschko return confirmed |url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/4031249/klitschko-return-confirmed |website=skysports.com |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=22 August 2008}}{{cite web |author1=Tim Smith |title=Samuel Peter has heavy grudge vs. Vitali Klitschko |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2008/10/07/2008-10-07_samuel_peter_has_heavy_grudge_vs_vitali_.html |website=nydailynews.com |publisher=New York Daily News |access-date=15 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009163354/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2008/10/07/2008-10-07_samuel_peter_has_heavy_grudge_vs_vitali_.html |archive-date=9 October 2008 |date=7 October 2008}}

As his brother had also become a Heavyweight champion during his absence from the ring, Vitali was hoping to become part of the first pair of brothers to hold versions of the heavyweight title simultaneously.{{cite web |author1=William Dettloff |title=Can Sam Peter still be a great heavyweight? |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3633545 |website=espn.com |publisher=ESPN |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=9 October 2008}}

Speaking to the tabloid newspaper Bild in the build up to the bout, Klitschko said "I'm still the same Vitali. I'm ambitious, mentally strong and hard working. It's not really a comeback for me, more like a fight between two world champions after injury."{{cite web |title=Klitschko - Same old Vitali |url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/4288061/klitschko-same-old-vitali |website=skysports.com |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=10 October 2008}}{{cite web |author1=Steve Bunce |title=Boxing: Klitschko faces battle with body as well as Peter |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/boxing-klitschko-faces-battle-with-body-as-well-as-peter-957743.html |website=independent.co.uk |publisher=The Independent |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=11 October 2008}}{{cite web |author1=Kevin Mitchell |title=Peter could have to pay heavy price for fighting Vitali |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2008/sep/28/boxing |website=theguardian.com |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=28 September 2008}}

Klitschko was the 1 to 4 on favorite to win.

Klitschko dominated the bout, utilising his left jab and landing powerful hooks to Peter's body and head. The much younger Peter kept a tight defensive stance and did manage to land a number of solid body shots on Klitschko however he wasn't able to consistently get inside Klitschko's massive reach. At the end of the eighth round Peter informed his corner that he did not want to continue, making Klitschko a two time Heavyweight Champion (three time if the then lightly regarded WBO belt is included). At the time he trailed on all three scorecards with two scoring it an 80–72 shutout and the other had it 79–73 giving Peter one round.{{cite news |author1=John Rawling |title=Klitschko pounds Peter to come back at the top |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/oct/13/boxing |website=The Guardian |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=13 October 2008}}{{cite web |author1=Paul F. Villarreal |title=Vitali Klitschko Destroys Sam Peter, Silences Critics |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/68492-vitali-klitschko-destroys-sam-peter-silences-critics |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=13 October 2008}}{{cite web |title=Powerful Klitschko reclaims title |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7655841.stm |website=BBC |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=12 October 2008}}

Vitali's victory meant that between himself and his brother, they held three of the four major title belts, with only the WBA title (held by Nikolai Valuev) left.{{cite web |author1=Josh Widdicombe |title=Klitschko reclaims WBC title on return |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/oct/12/boxing |website=theguardian.com |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=12 October 2008}} The WBC would order Vitali to make the first defence of his second reign as Heavyweight Champion against former WBC Cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gómez, who had won a "final eliminator" in September against Vladimir Virchis.{{cite web |author1=John Rawling |title=WBC orders Klitschko to make first title defence |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/nov/07/boxing |website=theguardian.com |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=7 November 2008}}

Confirmed bouts:{{cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/event/559381|title=BoxRec - event|publisher=}}

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-bef | before=vs. Oleg Maskaev}}

{{s-ttl | title=Samuel Peter's bouts | years=11 October 2008}}

{{s-aft | after=vs. Eddie Chambers}}

{{s-bef | before=vs. Danny Williams}}

{{s-ttl | title=Vitali Klitschko's bouts |years=11 October 2008}}

{{s-aft | after=vs. Juan Carlos Gómez}}

{{s-end}}

{{Vitali Klitschko}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peter, Klitschko V}}

Category:2008 in boxing

Category:2008 in German sport

Category:October 2008 sports events in Germany

Category:Sports competitions in Berlin

Category:Boxing matches in Germany

Peter

Category:Boxing on Showtime

Category:World Boxing Council heavyweight championship matches