Boxing Perspective: The Student Makes The Grade

I was a proponent of Sam Peter prior to his fighting James Toney. He was usually good for a KO from time-to-time with one huge punch against his opponent. But that kind of display was bound to fail when classed against a boxing PhD in James Toney and in my opinion, it did during their first fight. But with last night’s one-sided win over Toney in the rematch, Peter has shown a tremendous amount of growth and moves to the head of the class in the heavyweight division.

I was ready to write an article about how James Toney couldn’t lose this fight. I was halfway done and I’m glad I didn’t finish it; eating crow isn’t a favored pastime of mine. A Sam Peter who comes in condition and throws a lot of punches could very well sweep the heavyweight division. Peter stated that Toney made him a better fighter after their first bout and if that is true, what is he after two fights with James Toney?

While he is still young enough to compete, Shannon Briggs isn’t going to remain champion, especially against Sultan Ibragimov unless he can properly address his stamina issue. Nikolai Valuev is the kid at the back of the classroom that everyone else notices solely because he looks so much older than everyone else by his size, and not because he has done anything significant.

In the fight against Maskaev, penciled in for later this year, Peter will end it in six rounds or less. Maskaev is the student too old for the grade and is due to drop out as soon as someone new comes in to take his desk. In an upcoming fight, Peter is just that student and is more than adequate to take Oleg’s spot.

Ibragimov and Gerald Nobles could be obstacles down the line, but the true test of where Peter’s education lies will be in the eventual rematch against Wladimir Klitschko. Klitschko or Peter will defeat Maskaev, so he isn’t really in the way, no matter which one of them Maskaev fights this year. Since the champion of the division, Dr. Klitschko, taught Peter his first loss, it would be fitting to have Wladimir give Peter his final exam.

Under Toney’s tutelage, Peter is no longer the same fighter who lost to Klitschko in 2005. He will probably always be eager for the big punch but he has a deeper knowledge of other punches to utilize, many of them not involving the back of his opponent’s head. The Nigerian now has a small uppercut in addition to the straight right counter he showed last time with Toney and a greater ability to throw combinations and even flurries. Peter has also showed personality by mimicing pain from a Toney shot then copying a Toney-esque evasion that left “Lights Out” without a target to swing at.

Peter will never be the defensive genius that Toney is, but he has learned the value of punches not meant to tear off an opponent’s head during two 36 minute semesters. Peter threw far fewer looping punches than in the past and a greater commitment to the work necessary to negotiate a 12 round fight.

Hopefully, Sam Peter’s days as a pure slugger are over and he will examine how coming in at a lighter weight coupled with an educated offense will make the grade for his fight plan.