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That face is classic.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - Wladimir Klitschko scored a unanimous decision over Samuel Peter on Saturday night, despite being knocked down three times in a 12-round brawl.
Using his size and quickness to best advantage, Klitschko dominated early and rallied late to hold off the awkward, hard-hitting Peter. The fight looked to be Klitschko's early on but changed suddenly in the fifth round, when Peter knocked him down twice.
Klitschko (45-3) recovered and Peter seemed to tire in the next four rounds of the IBF elimination bout. Klitschko, 29, kept him at bay with quick combinations and a long jab that repeatedly forced the muscle-bound Nigerian, 25, to resort to overhand punches, some as the fighter broke from clinches.
But Peter, wielding a powerful right hand, nearly ended it in the 10th. He connected on an overhand right that staggered Klitschko, and he chased him into the corner and unloaded about a dozen more punches.
Klitschko escaped, but his legs were rubbery and as he retreated, Peter caught him again with a right to the face and Klitschko went down for the third time in the match.
Peter was out of gas after that, and Klitschko dominated the last two rounds, scoring at is now the mandatory challenger to IBF champion Chris Byrd.
Peter (24-1) was hoping to score his first victory over a name opponent.
Klitschko's stock as an up-and-coming heavyweight plunged with his losses to Corrie Sanders in 2003 and Lamon Brewster last year, and he needed a victory over Peter to boost his career.
Klitschko got $1.5 million to Peter's $900,000 for the fight.
The 10,137-person crowd at Boardwalk Hall observed a moment of silence before the fight as the ringside bell was rung 10 times in memory of fallen
