World renowned and most successful boxing promoter, Don King, in whose hands the world of boxing has been totally transformed, and who has produced over 10 world boxing champions has vowed to remake former WBC Champion, Nigeria's Samuel Peter, into a boxing legend.

Don King, who shot into prominence with his promotion of the popular 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” tournament between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire, which was a huge entertainment and TV event had also promoted the fights of such boxers as Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson, and Evander Holyfield. He is reputed to send his fighters to fame and celebrity status.

Samuel Peter became the first Nigerian to win a heavyweight championship belt after stopping Oleg Maskaev in the sixth round of their WBC title fight with a flurry of devastating punches in Mexico, March 2008. The last time Nigeria had a shot at a major world boxing title was in 1979 through Obisia Nwakpa. Our boxing legends include Hogan Kid Bassey and Dick Tiger of blessed memories.

Samuel Peter, in his class as an aggressive fighter with just a single defeat, in 2005, at the time of becoming world champion was to throw an open challenge to Klitschko which resulted in the Germany fight. The fight against Vitali Klitschko, from retirement since 2004, in October 2008 did not go by Peter's permutations. Though the attacking form of Peter's fight in that match could not secure a win for the champ, other issues may have been responsible for the loss which the former champion is now resolving in the best interest of motivating his numerous fans by returning to Don King's stable.

Though the German fight with Klitschko was not in the stable of Don King Promotions as with the WBC title fight, Peter was on a drift, and Don King was not letting go of his champ, according to him after the Klitschko loss, “I’m sure Peter would bounce back and I’m ready to help him,” King said. “But he (Peter) also needs the support of all Nigerians including that of President Musa Yar’Adua, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and the Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio".

He continued, “We have to rally behind Peter now and I know he can have a quick shot at the heavyweight title if we do our home work well.” He further said that, “I don’t give up easily and I won’t give up on Peter because I know he has what it takes to rule the world. What we need is for all of us to work together to ensure that Peter has the chance to fight in Nigeria next time. I know that President Musa Yar’adua, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and my friend, Governor Godswill Akpabio can make it happen,”

Unfortunately, in spite of the extension of solidarity from Don King, Samuel Peter could not build his home base and move some of his fights to Nigeria which could have deepened the entertainment quality of the game and earn him vital home support which are sometimes crucial in such high octane tournaments. Don King's position then and now also underscores the need for Nigerian supporters of Samuel Peter who may have ruled out the former champion's chances of once again becoming a boxing sensation, not withstanding his string of losses in the wilderness of lack of proper guidance.

After retracing his steps to the midas touch that earned him the world championship, Samuel Peter is now ready to align with an institution that has dominated the industry for over three decades as Don King exudes once again with a winning prescription, and now says in an elaborate Florida ceremony, “Samuel Peter is like a son to me, and I have forgiven him. He has realized that he can change all what he did wrongly and I’m happy that he is back into our fold.” and that “He has returned to bring back glory to the Nigerian people,” according to Don King “Peter is a good fighter but he needed to be guided. He has the never-say-die spirit of Nigerians and he can work his way to the top again.”

Don King had always been confident and enthusiastic that he can help Peter return to top flight boxing. Considering the string of losses amid some wins after he took a bow to his WBC belt one can say at this point that putting a belt on Peters waist once again will indeed make him a boxing legend, considering that many have completely ruled him out.

Reversing the dwindling fortunes of an otherwise flourishing boxing career from total apocalypse must have a lot going for it. Peter had been a very busy heavyweight fighter and he is still in form except for the lack of fighting strategy and guidance befitting his class. Peter's return to Don King's camp is expected to attract coordinated strategies to align his natural talents in the overall direction of winning tournaments and dominating the game once more as he returns from hibernation to become a smart, quality, and powerful boxer.

The world therefore beacons to former world number one, Samuel Peter, as he boldly raises the game of boxing to once more mount the ring of big fights to deliver the brutal flurry of power punches that made him the "Nigerian Nightmare" to boxers the world over.