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V. Klitschko, Peter to fight in Berlin for title

Older brother of IBF, WBO champion Wladimir set to face WBC champ

The Associated Press
10:03 AM EDT, August 22, 2008

BERLIN - Vitali Klitschko's long-awaited comeback against WBC heavyweight champion Samuel Peter will take place in Berlin on Oct. 11.

The title fight will be Klitschko's first since he announced his comeback from injuries last year.

The venue and the date were announced Friday by RTL television, the broadcaster of the fight in Germany. It will take place in the new 02 World arena, with a capacity of 13,000.

The two fighters' camps reached a deal on the fight in May.

Klitschko, the 37-year-old older brother of IBF and WBO heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko, was entitled to a fight with Peter because the WBC selected him its "interim champion" nearly four years ago when he first left the sport with a series of injuries.

"Samuel Peter is an exceptionally dangerous puncher who has already beaten some worthy opponents," Klitschko said in a statement. "I know that it will be a very tough fight, I will reach my dream of winning the world championship for the third time and being champion at the same time with my brother."

Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs), who lost his WBC title to Lennox Lewis by knockout in June 2003, hasn't fought since reclaiming the WBC title by knocking out Danny Williams in December 2004.

Peter (30-1, 23 KOs), a native of Nigeria who lives in Las Vegas, claimed the title with a sixth-round knockout of Oleg Maskaev in March in Cancun, Mexico.

Wladimir Klitschko handed Peter his only defeat in September 2005.

"For me there is no doubt at all. I will defend my title. Klitschko is an experienced and very difficult opponent but I am younger and better," Peter said. "I will beat him and then his brother Wladimir -- I have an old account to settle."

Related topic galleries: World Boxing Organization, World Boxing Council, Lennox Lewis

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