Samuel Peter fights the first of what "The Nigerian Nightmare" predicts will be a busy schedule of heavyweight title defences when the interim WBC champion takes on American Jameel McCline today.

Peter was made interim champion after holder Oleg Maskaev of Russia pulled out of his mandatory 12-round defence at Madison Square Garden last month citing a back injury.

The 27-year-old Nigerian has a record of 28-1, with 22 wins coming within the distance. McCline, 37, available as a late substitute for Maskaev after Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine pulled out of their scheduled fight last month in Munich, is 38-7-3.

Maskaev will be allowed a chance to reclaim his crown once he is recovered, but Peter has no intention of yielding the title he has worked so long for.

"I'm not a heavyweight that ducks anybody," Peter told Reuters. "Anybody who comes my way, I'll fight him.

"I'm going to fight all the time before I retire."

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