Experience beats youth in Czech Republic
Paul Peers travelled 1,500 miles to fight less than two rounds and deliver a knockout punch that travelled just inches.
The Orkney-based Liverpudlian was boxing just 13 days after winning the WBU and PBC welterweight championships. Full of confidence, he didn’t hesitate when offered the chance to fight in the Czech Republic against an undefeated young prospect with a perfect KO percentage.
Understanding he was not brought all that way to ruin best-laid plans, Peers fought with spite and urgency and took matters out of the officials’ hands with a devastating overhand right to remove 23-year-old Artem Vitryak from both his senses and his ‘0’.
Sensational win triggers talk of Harrison rematch
The highlight-reel finish on this Patron Boxing bill adds the the growing reputation and momentum of a man who until recently was being frustrated by both pandemics and politics..
Having now won 11 of his past 12 bouts, and taking hold of two title belts (not on the line in Plzen), Peers has set his sights on repairing the sole blemish among his most recent dozen outings.
That came against former two-time WBO champion Scott Harrison in July 2020 at lightweight, but only after Peers took the early lead.
Now, having amassed more experience and confidence, Peers believes the result would be different if they met in his more natural 147lb division.
“If it ever happens again at a weight I am comfy with, I wipe the floor with him – 100%,” said Peers of the prospect of a Harrison rematch.
And that prospect continues to look more and more likely, with Peers having caught Harrison’s attention with his new belts and recent performances, not to mention his claims of being able to enact revenge.
Harrison and Peers have been “sparring” on social media, which is often the prelude to fighting for real.
That Peers has come back so strongly from that defeat that a rematch now looks both possible and appealing is testament to both his improvement and the tactical skills of his coach and manager Lee McAllister.
We await further developments with keen interest.
LINKS
New champ Paul Peers returns just two weeks after title win
1 punch 2 belts – Paul Peers becomes a double champ
Paul Peers guns for titles, and dreams of revenge
Paul Peers athlete bio
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