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Maskaev pulls out of title fight with Samuel Peter

WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev on Friday pulled out of his Oct. 6 title defense against Samuel Peter, citing a back injury.

Maskaev's decision to postpone his mandatory defense infuriated Peter's representatives, who called on the WBC to stage an interim title fight on the same date at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Peter, a Nigerian boxer considered the sport's best rising heavyweight, has been chasing a title shot for two years.

"We are shocked and disappointed that Maskaev is pulling out of the fight," promoter Dino Duva said.

"We intend to verify this injury and the extent of it. ... Sam Peter has waited too long for this title fight. He can't wait around for Maskaev to get healthy. Samuel Peter should fight for the heavyweight championship on Oct. 6," he said.

Maskaev (34-5, 26 KOs) won his title with a 12th-round knockout of Hasim Rahman last August, but hasn't fought since defeating Peter Okhello last December.

Peter (28-1, 22 KOs) hasn't lost in four fights since dropping a decision to Wladimir Klitschko in September 2005 despite knocking down the current IBF champion three times.

The bout was scheduled to be the first fight at the Garden's new ring after its 82-year-old ring was donated to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
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