Peter made interim champion

Samuel Peter has been named as the WBC's interim heavyweight champion after Oleg Maskaev's latest injury.

Nigerian benefits from Maskaev injury

Samuel Peter has been named as the World Boxing Council's interim heavyweight title holder after champion Oleg Maskaev pulled out of their scheduled October 6 fight due to a back injury. Maskaev knocked out Hasim Rahman in August 2006 to claim the belt but fitness problems have since kept him out of the ring. The American-based Russian is sidelined for at least three months due to several herniated discs in his back, prompting the WBC's board of governors to vote in favour of promoting Peter to the status of interim champion. The Nigerian is now hoping to find an alternative opponent for October 6 at Madison Square Garden, with Andrew Golota believed to be the leading candidate. Golota returned to the ring in his native Poland in June after a two-year absence and produced an impressive second-round knockout of Jeremy Bates.