ABUJA – The Nigerian Police Force says Nigerians should not expect the quick return of Nigeria’s heavyweight boxing champion, Samuel Peter, to the global boxing arena.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Peter, a former World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion, took a break from boxing following his defeat in round nine by Robert Helenius of Germany in 2011.
Sani Mohammed, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Sports at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, told NAN on Wednesday in Abuja that though, Peter had resumed training, he would need enough time to return to his best.
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“Samuel Peter is in the U.S; Samuel Peter just resumed his boxing career.
“He only fought in January and won via second round knockout; he has to go all over again and start building up.
“It’s not going to be automatic, but he has resumed training but we don’t expect to see Samuel Peter of WBC fame now. Maybe gradually he will come back, but I am still in contact with him.
“He is still a serving member of the Nigeria Police, he is a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), but anytime he comes back and attends promotion course, he goes to the next rank.’’
According to Mohammed, who is also the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Peter’s resumption of training is to put him on sound footing to reclaim his World Boxing title.
He said that Peter, popularly called “the Nigerian nightmare’’, had some family challenges which earlier affected his boxing career.
“Samuel Peter has some challenges, family issues to be precise, but with some support he received from the Nigerian Police, his state government and some individuals, he was able to reconcile some of those differences,’’ Mohammed said.
The commissioner of police further said that the Inspector- General of Police (IGP) would soon unveil the plan he has for sports.
Mohammed said that the IGP’s ultimate aim was to produce athletes that would represent Nigeria at the 2015 All Africa Games and the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.
Peter is best remembered for his double triumph over James Toney and Oleg Maskaev, as well as his two-time losses to Wladimir Klitschko and brother Vitali. (NAN)
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