Dutchman Don Diego Poeder, 40, 24-6 and former WBU champ, have applied for a license to comeback for a final farewell fight.
Poeder will now if all goes according to plan return April 29 at the Topsportcentrum in Rotterdam for a last performance. Opponent will be experienced Russian-Norwegian journeyman Daniel Peret – a guy who is a lot tougher than he looks.
Poeder turned pro in 94 and was matched both in the US and in the Netherlands. Things went very well and Don Diego beat a number of names and won the then relatively well regarded but dying (a case of boxing politics) WBU title in 97 with a win over Terry Ray.
However, in 98 disaster struck and Poeder, then 21-0, was badly knocked out by Robert Daniels – needless to say the Dutchman was well ahead going into the tenth round. In 99 another bad kayo loss followed and Poeder retired.
In 2004 Poeder returned and won two fights before losing two upset decisions to Belgian journeyman Ismail Abdoul.
In 2007 Poeder moved up to heavyweight and was surprisingly knocked out by Andre Janssens and then stopped by Yaroslav Zarovotny – both men Don Diego in fresher days should have handled easily.
Another retirement followed and now a final fight. Outside of the ring Poeder have been into writing, acting and fitness training.
12.04 Poeder to come back
