The Heavyweights Are Heating Up

All right, it isn't exactly Lewis/Holyfield. Hell it isn't even Holmes/Witherspoon. But I'll take it. Dan Rafael is reporting today on ESPN.com that the long debate over who next gets to fight Oleg "Sack of Potatoes" Maskaev is over. Sam Peter and the now unretired Vitali Klitschko were the main contestants for Maskaev's head, and it appears that The Nigerian Nightmare will get the first crack at it, with Dr. K to take on the winner.

I'm into both of these fights, mostly because I think that Maskaev is no match for the wild-swinging Peter, but being the healthy slab of Russian man that he is, he'll stand in there and absorb a lot of those big overhand rights before he tumbles, which should make for a satisfying night of ultra-violence. Then the Peter/Vitali match has some legitimate drama to it - don't forget that Dr. V's brother, Wlad, barely made it out of the ring alive in his meeting with Peter. Taking on that stocky Nigerian power puncher in his first bout back will be a tall order for Vitali, and a must-win to boot if that comeback is to continue. Of course, if he does manage the win, he'll own the WBC belt, and then the questions will turn to Wlad's once-stated single-minded goal of unifying the heavyweight belts. Does that remain Wlad's goal if it means facing his brother? Is that where we're headed with all this? People, my interest is piqued.

Peter gets shot at heavyweight title, will face Maskaev (ESPN.com)