BERLIN (AP) -Vitali Klitschko and the manager of Samuel Peter traded verbal jabs Thursday ahead of the two fighters' WBC heavyweight title bout next month.
The two boxers will fight at the O2 World arena on Oct. 11 for the WBC belt that Klitschko lost in 2005 after withdrawing from a title bout because of a torn right knee ligament.
``You look a bit nervous because you go to press conference with big body guards'' Klitschko said to Peter. ``Don't worry ... We will not fight before the fight. I won't attack you.''
Peter maintained a stoic silence and brushed off the remark in his brief statements. The retort came minutes later from Peter's manager, Ivaylo Gotsev.
``Nobody is going to beat you up before the fight,'' Gotsev said. ``All you've got to worry about is one match - and that's coming on Oct. 11, that's a promise.''
Peter (30-1, 23 KOs) took the WBC interim title by easily beating Jameel McCline on points in September 2007. Earlier this year, the Nigerian-born, Las Vegas-based fighter took care of Oleg Maskaev with a devastating sixth-round knockout in a Cancun bullfighting ring, a fight that strengthened his grip on the WBC belt.
After that victory, Peter called out for a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali's younger brother and holder of the IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight belts. Wladimir is also responsible for the only loss on Peter's record.
Instead, Peter will fight Vitali, the ``champion emeritus'' of the WBC belt and a powerful, if injury-prone, boxer.
Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) has been out of the ring since an eighth-round win over Danny Williams on Dec. 11, 2004.
Klitschko said the chance to hold a world title along with his brother has been a lifelong dream.
``Without dreams, life is boring,'' Klitschko said. ``For years it has been my dream to be a world champion at the same time as my brother.''
