Nigeria Retains World Heavyweight Boxing Title
Nigeria’s
Samuel Peter has successfully defended his World Heavyweight
Boxing title, defeating his challenger, Jameel McCline, via a
unanimous decision.
Clinching the Title
Though dropped once in the second round and twice in the third,
Peter rose each time and stuck with the fight till the 14th
round. His fight improved as the fight progressed.
Peter consequently swept the last nine rounds after twice
pulling himself off the canvas in Round 3.
In Peters words "When I was knocked down, I knew I had to stand
up and defend my belt, I'm a champion."
Peter grew bolder, using his jab and a harsh body attack that
often strayed below boxing's delineated zone and only a few of
the sizzling right hands that had knocked out so many of his
earlier opponents to control the rest of the fight.
McCline, surged to an early lead but lost momentum in the later
rounds.
Judge Billy Costello scored the fight 115-110; Judge Steve
Weisfeld, 115-111 and Judge Julie Lederman 113-112. No one,
including McCline, disputed the scores.
ESPN's card had Peter winning by 115-111 as well.
McCline’s Reaction
McCline said sadly after the decision was announced, “I let him
get away, I could have finished him. I should have finished him
but I didn’t. I thought I had it, but he got away. That's why
he's still the champion."
Late in the final round McCline's wife appeared to be a woman
who had learned a lesson as well. She learned that her husband
was in trouble.
She screamed at ringside as her husband repeatedly declined to
move his hands. "Please, Jameel!"
Promoter’s Voice
The international promoter of the fight, Don King was excited
too that Peter mustered courage and determination to win the
fight despite setbacks in the early round. To Don King, “You
learn every day in life, like a toddler, he (Peter) learned one
thing tonight. He learned to get up."
Road To Success
Nigeria’s Samuel Peter was schedule to meet, WBC champion, Oleg
Maskaev. The former champion had pulled out of the fight because
of herniated discs in his back.
Though Peter's promoter, Dino Duva, said he had not yet seen any
medical reports confirming that injury, they had agreed to
accept the interim title and push on to keep the card (and
Peter's payday) intact.
After the decision was announced, Peter claimed he had broken
his left hand during training but hid the fact to the commission
because he did not want to follow in the footsteps of Maskaev.
NP/QA/MIA
