THE NITEMARE IS BACK!

We Got The Headline! "The Nightmare is back! Last time in Atlantic City, it didn't go that well. I'm looking for Redemption!" Thus spoke former WBC World Heavyweight Champion Samuel Peters this morning on the radio show atblogtalkradio.com/theworldboxingreview. Aaron Snowell and I had the privilege to interview him and his trainer, Kofi Jontuah. Topics ranged from what it feels like to be the heavyweight champion of the world, what made you want to comeback after a two year plus layoff, what are your future plans and the big one: I asked Peters about the last time he was in Atlantic City, NJ when he was 24-0 and fought Wladimir Klitschko for the NABA and WBO-NABO titles. He lost by UD and is seeking redemption. That fight, back on September 25, 2005, was also held at the famous Boardwalk Hall where this Saturday night's Women's World Middleweight Unification bout between Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer will take place. Kofi talked about Peters' dedication to get into shape since he had surpassed 300 pounds and gave it to him straight when asked to train him: "Show me you're serious or get lost. I got young fighters here". It clicked and here we go! Samuel Peters, The Nigerian Nightmare,(37-6, 30 KO's) will be fighting Mario Heredia (15-6-1, 13 KO's) out of Mexico, as part of the undercard to this historic event.

The 38 year old Samuel Peters was born in Nigeria and is currently a resident of Las Vegas, NV. Career highlights include winning the WBC Youth World Heavyweight Title by TKO over Dale Crowe back on March 7, 2003 in Reno, NV. Before that in 2002, he fought up the road from our Pottsville, PA Studio in Scranton, PA at the old Catholic Youth Center, winning a UD over Marion Wilson. James Toney fought him twice, losing both times, back in 2006-7. The first fight was for the IBA World and defense of his NABF belts, the second was a successful defense of the NABF crown. He won the NABF title back on April 28, 2006 with a knockout of Julius Long. He had previously held the NABF crown back in 2004 after a KO win over Jeremy Williams. He won the interim WBC World belt with a UD over Jameel McCline on October 6, 2007 and defended against Oleg Maskaev, a bout which he won by TKO. The next fight was when he ran into Klitschko in AC. He fought Wladimir again on September 11, 2010 in Frankfurt, Germany, getting knocked out. Vasily Klitschko was also an opponenet of his, KO'ing Peters back in 2008. After battling Kubrat Pulev and losing back on December 3, 2016, he stepped away from the sport until he returned on February 22 down at Cheers Bar in Tijuana, Mexico. He scored a KO over journeyman Gerardo Escobar. Saturday night is the next step on the comeback trail.

I'll finish up the undercard participants tomorrow. Yet to come: Atlantic City and the feature fighters.

Bob Murray

TheWBR