Wladimir Klitschko Scrapes Past Samuel Peter

Wladimir Klitschko resurrected his fading career by proving he can take a punch.

Despite going to the canvas three times, Klitschko made himself the top contender for the IBF heavyweight title by scoring a unanimous decision over hard-punching and previously unbeaten Samuel Peter at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

Judges Lynn Carter, George Hill and Steve Weisfeld all scored the bout 114-111.

Klitschko (45-3, 40 KOs) was on the fast track to a title after winning his first 42 fights before being knocked out in two of his previous six bouts.

Making things worse for the younger brother of former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko was that those knockouts came at the hands of journeymen Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster.

In this one, Klitschko used better boxing skills to outpoint Peter (24-1), who spent too much of the fight looking to land one big punch that would give him his 22nd career knockout.

The Nigerian dropped the Ukrainian twice in the fifth round and once again late in the 10th. However, Klitschko responded every time by outboxing Peter with a strong left jab and effective holding to tire his opponent.