By Rick Reeno

On Saturday night at O2 Arena in Berlin, Germany, WBC heavyweight champion Sam Peter (30-1, 23 KOs) will defend his title against the comeback kid, Vitali Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs), who holds the title of WBC Champion Emeritus. Klitschko returns after a near four-year hiatus from the ring.  

The staff of BoxingScene .com comes together to voice their opinions, strategies and predictions for the big fight.

Jake Donovan - Vitali Klitschko by technical knockout in eight. Many are banking on Vitali's four-year absence to be the major factor in Peter emerging victorious. Anything short of Vitali pulling up lame between now and fight night will make it a non-issue once the opening bell sounds. Klitschko takes a round or so to get going, before taking over and eventually breaking down Peter.

Patrick Kehoe - Looks like all Klitschko did in securing a homecourt advantage for his fight against Samuel Peter was make the Nigerian Nightmare even more angry than he was about the entire promotion. Peter is feeling second class and over looked and under appreciated, and I suspect he's going to take it out on Vitali "The Elder". I'm tipping Peter to knock Vitali Klitschko back into retirement. Dear Doctor: This ain't 2002! Peter by knockout over Klitschko in eight.
 
CompuBox/Bob Canobbio - Klitschko by knockout over Peter in six. Both fighers will the visit canvas in a slugfest.

Mitch Abramson - Peter's been the busier fighter. You simply can't take off from boxing, run for political office, then come back and face a dangerous fighter in Peter. Joe Mesi, are you listening? Peter by late knockout.

Cliff Rold - Peter knocks Klitschko out in six. Making this pick assumes the fight comes off and with only hours to spare, it appears it might.  Good for Klitschko if it does.  It has to have been frustrating dealing with the multiple body breakdowns he has.  None of that changes how old he is or how long he's been out of the ring or that he returns against arguably the division's hardest puncher.  Klitschko is awkward and efficient; he's not the technically fighter his brother is.  He gets hit.  Sure, he takes it better, but it won't matter this weekend.  Peter's long right hand sends toxic shock through a body that hasn't felt anything like it in years, ending the bout before the halfway point.

Robert Morales - Vitali Klitschko has been off too long. Peter by technical knockout.

TK Stewart - I'm going with the betting favorite - and the last time I looked that was Vitali.  Peter is too heavy, too clumsy and after a few rounds go by he is usually huffing and puffing like an old freight train.  Vitali was always a busy puncher that set a fast pace and threw a lot of shots and I believe he'll be the same way on Saturday night. Once he warms up and scrapes off the rust he'll regain his old form and he'll nail Sam with jabs and right hands from long distance.  I look for Vitali to win by stoppage, somewhere after the 9th round.
 
John Hively - Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko should be an easy fight to pick. Vitali hasn't fought in nearly four years, and he is nearing forty years of age. By all rights Peter should wear the old guy down with body blows and stop him. But you never can tell. Maybe Samuel won't be able to get inside Vitali's jabs and straight rights, meaning that Peter may be the guy that gets worn down and beaten. Remember, this Klitschko has an iron jaw and I think Peter's style is made to order for Vitali. Which Vitali will show up? The thirty-eight year old who hasn't done anything in nearly four years, or a guy who is 90 percent of the old fighter. I don't know, but I'll pick the old guy to spring the upset.

Lyle Fitzsimmons - I've been banging the drum for an all-brother showdown between the Klitschko boys, so I guess that'd require step one in this fight.  Five years ago, it's a no-brainer as Vitali takes the raw bomber to school.  It'll clearly be tougher now with subsequent years of rust and Peter's obvious improvement, but something tells me the old man's got one surprise left.  Klitschko by knockout in eight.

Ernest Gabion - Vitali Klitschko by stoppage, around the ninth round.  He will pummel Peter with the jab to the point where champion tires, and then he puts him away.

James Blears - Vitali has a superb record, especially with knockouts, which is unequelled percentage wise in the heavyweight division. But an almost four year layoff, admitedly due to a series of serious injuries, is one helluva a furlong, and it's got to have encased him in ring rust. He's also on the wrong side of thirty seven. Much as I would love to see the Klitschko's made brotherly history, and in doing so fulfil a long held dream, I feel time has past Vitali by, and Samuel Peter will be the first person to stop him. The nightmare should take less than six round or less.

Ryan Songalia - We know what Peter's faults are, he struggled against the taller, rangier Wladimir Klitschko and Jameel McCline. What we don't know is how much Vitali has left, which makes him the question mark. If this was 3 years ago and Klitschko was reasonably healthy I would pick Vitali off the bat. Now, I'm not too sure. If he hasn't lost much since the numerous injuries and layoffs, then he wins. I'll go with that instinct and pick Klitschko via decision.

Amy Green - The only thing against Vitali is his nearly four year leave of absence, even though he returns healthy and healed. Peter has seen good activity: twice with James Toney, Jeremy Williams, Oleg Maskaev  and  Wlad. In 2003 Vitali was, as Jim Lampley said "roughing Lennox Lewis up" before their fight was stopped and Lewis earned the victory, in spite of Vitali making things interesting until the 6th round.  Vitali will need to impose his height and literally beat Peter down to avoid him gaining any ground on the inside and do it quickly.

Alphonso Costello - Here’s a not so bold prediction: The Vitali Klitschko-Samuel Peter fight will be cancelled when Klitschko sprains his ankle stepping on the scales at the weigh-in. If the fight takes place Klitschko’s biggest hurdle in regaining the WBC title will be his time away from the ring along with Peter’s heavy handed fists. In a slow paced super heavyweight title fight Samuel Peter defeats Vitali Klitschko by split decision.

Larry Tornambe - Vitali Klitschko will go down, but get up and survive for a decision win.

Troy Ondrizek - One fight in almost four years and often injured, this doesn't bode well for Vitali Klitschko.  Granted his height, strength, and awkward style has always put Vitali in favorable circumstances inside the ring, his lack of recent experience inside will be detrimental to him in this fight.  The beating (one round) that Samuel Peter survived a year ago at the hands of Jameel McCline was originally intended for Vitali, and to be honest, I believe Peter saved Klitschko of immense embarassment that night by beating McCline instead of Vitali losing to Jameel.  I have this for Samuel Peter in a relatively easy unanimous decision.  Just bad timing for Vitali to try to fight again.

Mark Vester - Sam Peter will beat the rusty Vitali Klitschko via split-decision after twelve.

Ronnie Nathanielsz - Although returning to the ring against an opponent of the quality of Samuel Peter after an almost  four year absence can be demanding, I believe that Vitali Klitschko will quickly rub off the ring rust and then overpower Peter with his size, reach and punching power.
 
One only has to recall how he handled the great Lennox Lewis to appreciate the fact that while he may not be as exciting a heavyweight as fights fans would like to see Vitali is a big, talented fighter and should get the job done in the end.
 
He may be 37 but he hasn't really been in any debilitating wars although his tendency to breakdown with all sorts of physical ailments does raise some concern. But I see Vitali as an intelligent fighter and someone who knows what he can and cannot do and I believe he knows he can beat Peter and will do just that.

Brent Matteo Alderson - Samuel Peter is a monster and is really just a powerful puncher, but like a lot of hefty big boned heavyweights (David Tua), as soon as Samuel started making the big bucks - he stopped training with vigor and purpose and you can tell by looking at his physique. 

He came in good shape for the second Toney fight, but he should be a little bit leaner.  His jab has improved, but he’s pretty slow and ponderous in there and getting knocked down three times by McCline took some luster off his reputation.  On the other hand you have Vitali who hasn’t fought in fours years and is 37 years old. You just never know at that age with that type of layoff. Remember when Sugar Ray Leonard came back for Camacho and couldn’t throw a punch without losing his balance?  That could happen to Klitschko, but I’m not going to bet on it.  I think Vitali’s reach and height advantage will be the difference and predict he is going to throw that straight right downwards at the stationary Peter and score a conclusive knockout.  Peter is easy to hit and Vitali is 6’8 compared to Samuel who is 6’1.  I like Klitschko by knockout.  I got to tell you, I love the heavyweights and am really looking forward to this fight. 

Shaw Krest - Remember Danny Williams?  Kind of?  He's the guy that beat MIke Tyson (remember Mike Tyson?).  Williams was a big story in late 2004...which is the last time Vitali Klitschko fought.   With both men sharp and active, Klitschko-Peter is lopsided in the big man's favor.  But coming off a layoff the length of Bush's entire second term with no tune-up bout, its tough to see him having the stamina and sharpness to get the nod over Peter.  Look for a lopsided Peter victory in a slow plodding bout, 118-110. 

Michael Doss - I think that Vitali, after eight-rounds will wish that he took a tune-up.
Samuel Peter will finally get a win over a Klitschko, this one coming by corner retirement late or by unanimous decision.

Michael Campbell - Vitali over Peter by knockout. I am making a big assumption that Vitali is in peak health, or else I would choose Peter via injury stoppage.  Vitali has stopped big heavyweights with good chins and Peter has been rocked by big heavyweights with big punches.  In addition, Vitali's boxing skills are superior.

Rick Reeno - After four-years of being away, and injuries, and political runs, I just can't go with Vitali Klitschko in this fight. Sam Peter is a very iffy pick when considering his near knockout loss to a very ordinary Jameel McCline. Peter also has issues with tall fighters who decide to use a good jab. I just don't know if Vitali can deal with a tough fight after so many years away. I have to go with Peter by close decision.