Since it’s Kentucky Derby week, let’s use some racing jargon to describe Duva Boxing’s big Friday night in Uncasville, CT. Promoter Dino Duva registered a heavyweight trifecta at Mohegan Sun Arena with three impressive performances on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights. In the main event, Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter scored a devastating first round knockout victory over Julius Long in a heavyweight battle that was over before it started. Peter, sharp and aggressive from the opening bell, unloaded a series of combinations before Long went down for good at 2:35 of the first stanza. Peter captured the vacant NABF heavyweight title with the win.
“You have to be aggressive if you want a knockout,” said Peter, who upped his record to 26-1, with 22 victories coming by way of KO. “That was the game plan. You have to get in there, be aggressive, even if your opponent has a knife.”
Who’s next for the Nigerian Nightmare? “Anybody, anybody, anybody,” he roared after the fight. “Anybody who has a title. I want to win the heavyweight championship.”
When asked about Wladimir Klitschko, who beat Peter on a decision last year before knocking out Chris Byrd to win the IBF Heavyweight Championship a couple of weeks ago, Peter said: “I will destroy Wladimir Klitschko. I learned a lot from the last fight. It wasn’t my time, now it’s my time.”
Said Duva after the Peter victory: "Sam's next fight will be a big, meaningful bout in the summer."
In contrast to Peter’s first round knockout, Brian Minto went the distance, but scored the unanimous triumph over Billy Zumbrun in an 8-round heavyweight affair. Illustrating that he was rugged as well as durable, “The Beast” dominated Zumbrun with his left jab. Minto upped his record to 24-1, with 14 KO’s. The native of Butler, Pennsylvania got past a tough-minded Zumbrun, and is now poised for bigger opportunities and better opponents in the heavyweight division.
Meanwhile, unbeaten up and coming heavyweight prospect Mike Marrone scored a “you missed it if you blinked” first round knockout over Dan Whetzel. Marrone’s record now stands at 13-0, as he ascends the heavyweight ranks with his 10th knockout victory.
Duva's heavyweights are hot! Who do you like in the Kentucky Derby, Dino?