The Neutral Corner

Vitali Klitschko had not fought in nearly four years, but the mayoral candidate from Kiev pounded Samuel Peter to reclaim the WBC heavyweight title when Peter did not answer the bell for the ninth round.

It has long been Vitali's dream to hold a heavyweight title at the same time as his brother, Wladimir, who currently has the IBF and WBO belts.

Peter chose not to come back out after eight rounds of heavy pressure from Klitschko. The bout took place in Berlin in front of more than 12,000 people at the new O2 World Arena. It was televised on Showtime.

"If Samuel Peter didn't stop the fight, I have the feeling in the next two rounds, I would have knocked him out," Klitschko said to the AP. "He got more and more punches, and his chin (was) not so strong as the first rounds."

Wladimir Klitschko dealt Peter his only previous loss, in September 2005 in a 12-round unanimous decision in Atlantic City. The Klitschkos have long said they would never fight each other.

Vitali Klitschko also held the WBC belt in 2004.

In an undercard fight, Cuban heavyweight Odlanier Solis improved to 12-0 and captured the WBC international heavyweight belt by beating American Chauncy Welliver. Solis, a former gold medalist, defected from Cuba with teammates Yuriorkis Gamboa and Yan Barthelemy.

In another bout televised by Showtime last night -- but from Las Vegas -- Chad Dawson beat veteran Antonio Tarver.

-- CASSIDY

The fourth annual BOX NYC card will be televised on ESPN2 from the Hammerstein Ballroom, Wednesday, April 16th. World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko will appear at the event and will accept a donation from BOX NYC for The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the official charity of the event.

The main bout features New York City super middleweight prospect Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin (17-0) against veteran world-title challenger Antwun Echols (31-7-4). In heavyweight action, Chazz Witherspoon (22-0) meets Domonic Jenkins (13-7-1).

The Hammerstein Ballroom is located at 311 West 34th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues. Doors will open for VIP ticket holders at 6:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. for general admission. For more information call, 212-353-4862 or email Jed@jedweinsteinpresents.com

-- CASSIDY

It's time for professional boxing to consider a super heavyweight division. And it's also time for Wladimir Klitschko to consider chess, or some other cerebral endeavor.

The first issue. When Klitschko fought Sultan Ibragimov Saturday night at Madison Square Garden it looked like a heavyweight against a middleweight. Klitschko weighed 238 to Ibragimov's 219. Under any other circumstance, such a matchup would defy all logic, rules and regulations. In amateur boxing, you are a heavyweight up to 201 pounds. Anything over is a super heavyweight. The pro game need not follow the same weight standards, but it's certainly time for a change in the weight range that heavyweights fight.

Now, to the more pressing issue. Klitschko retained his IBF title and captured Ibragimov's WBO belt with a 119-110, 117-111, 118-110 decision. This was one of the worst heavyweight title fights in history. And it had nothing to do with Sultan. The guy tried.

For some reason, Klitschko fought 12 rounds like a man afraid of being hit. He darted in and out, popping his jab like a skittish lightweight hoping not to get nailed. He rarely threw his lethal right hand. Although having a 19-pound weight advantage, five-inch height advantage and a considerable reach advantage, he was almost passive. Not exactly what you expect from the heavyweight champion of the world.

He outjabbed a guy against whom he had tremendous physical advantages. So what.

On paper, this was USC against a high school football team. It was the Yankes against a bar-league softball team. That's no knock against Ibragimov.

Sultan has a working-class, every-man appeal to fight fans, looking sort of like a guy who just walked off a construction site. He is, however, a talented fighter. He captured a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics and has gone unbeaten (until tonight) as a pro. And while he is an fighter, how could he have been considered a real threat to Klitschko? For all his ability, Ibragimov has failed to knock out the aged Evander Holyfield and the ordinary Ray Austin.

In comparison, Klitschko is a well-muscled adonis. Not only did he win the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, he was named the outstanding fighter of the tournament. Some of his pro knockouts have been picturesque. So why?

Why was Klitschko fighting like Sultan was the second coming of George Foreman and Sonny Liston combined? Klitschko refused to take chances, he was content to play it safe. Arturo Gatti has thrown more right hands in a single round -- when his right hand was broken no less -- than Klitschko threw over 12 rounds.

Wladimir is a thinking man's fighter. At MSG, he fought as if this was a chess match. Perhaps that's a game more suitable to his personality. -- CASSIDY

A pair of heavyweight champions weighed in this afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

First up was Sultan Ibragimov, the WBO heavyweight titlist, who tipped the scales at 219 pounds. Next was Wladimir Klitschko, the IBF belt holder. He weighed in at 238 pounds.

"I am going to win the fight," said Klitschko. "I am determined to win this fight. The fight is scheduled for 12 rounds, but I doubt it will go the distance.
I'm the lightest I've ever been but I feel strong and energetic. I feel great!"

Ibragimov countered by saying, "I feel fantastic. The weight is fantastic, perfect!"

The unification heavyweight championship match is set for the Garden on Saturday night and will be televised by HBO. -- CASSIDY