Round By Round: Samuel Peter vs. Vitali Klitschko

The O2 World Arena in Berlin, Germany is home to the WBC heavyweight title fight between Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko. We're watching this one several hours after the fact in the United States on Showtime.

This is basically a home fight for Klitschko, the former WBC and WBO heavyweight champion who is returning to action after nearly four years off. Dr. Ironfist and his brother are very popular in Germany, and the crowd is very much in his corner.

Michael Buffer handles the introductions and we're all set to go.

Round 1

Both men working short hooks in the early going. Peter trying to duck his way inside. Jab by Peter and another. Left hook and a right hand crash home for Vitali. Klitschko can't miss with either hand. Another left hook has Peter off balance. Klitschko backing and circling but still throwing as he does. Peter finally scores to the body but it's clearly Klitschko's round.

Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko

Round 2

Klitschko couldn't have started this fight any better. Peter is coming forward but he's getting whacked on the way in. Klitschko jabs, Peter ducks in and ties up. Now a right hand upstairs gets Vitali's attention. Left hooks land both ways. Vitali scores repeatedly with his left hand, both jabs and hooks. Klitschko almost can't miss - the left hand especially is there any time he wants it.

Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko

Round 3

The crowd claps as Klitschko evades Peter's attack. Vitali lands with both hands to the head and backs away. He sneaks in three jabs in a row and Peter can't muster much coming back. He does load up a big right but Vitali responds immediately. Right hook by Klitschko in the middle of the ring. Peter scores to the body in the losing seconds.

Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko

Round 4

Klitschko is holding his hands low but Peter hasn't been able to make him pay. Lefts set up a right hand to Peter's head. Two more rights land fairly clean. Peter is coming forward but isn't busy, and he gets smacked with another right. Peter lands a few jabs to the body with nothing behind them. The announcers think he feels a one-punch KO may be his only way to win.

Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko

Round 5

Just found out there is open scoring for this one, and to little surprise, Klitschko has won every round on the official cards. Nice straight right by Klitschko and he goes back to the jab. A combo lands punctuated by another right, and Peter's left eye is swelling. Vitali circles and scores with left hooks. Peter is trying more jabs but getting hit in return almost every time. Peter tries to turn it into a brawl before the bell and Klitschko isn't having it.

Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko

Round 6

Vitali goes right back to work; Peter hasn't found anything that's worked so far. A long sequence with very little happening ends with a left hand by Vitali. Klitschko sneaking in lefts and backing out; Peter trying to set up the right hand and still finding it hard. That may have been the closest round so far but it still easily went to Vitali.

Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko

Round 7

Peter's corner told him to go to the body to set up head shots, but that's been easier said than done. Klitschko pours it on with a combo and works more left hands. The jab keeps Peter at bay again, and a right hand hits Peter in the face. Another one is on target and Peter's eye isn't looking any better.

Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko

Round 8

The only drama left in this one is seeing whether Peter will lay it all out to get the KO or be KO'ed. He's finally trying to stand and trade but Klitschko is just too cagey. Repeated jabs smack Peter with an occasional right hand for good measure. It's hard to write anything different - it's just very accurate punching by Klitschko combined with enough movement to keep his foe from scoring in response.

Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko

Peter hears the scores after the eighth round and decides he's had enough. He quits on his stool, giving the win to Klitschko. Brother Wladimir is extremely excited as the brothers Klitschko reign as heavyweight champions together.

The winner by TKO at the end of Round Eight... and new WBC heavyweight champion of the world... Vitali Klitschko.