This Saturday from the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia, Washington D.C.’s Lamont Peterson (33-3-1 17 KO’s) makes his return against the Dominican Republic’s Felix Diaz (17-0 8 KO’s) at a catch-weight of 144 pounds.
Peterson last fought in April, a close majority decision loss to Danny Garcia. Peterson fought well against Garcia and many observers thought the scores should have tilted the former WBA and IBF World super lightweight titlist’s way. That fight was at a catch-weight of 143, one pound less than Saturday’s fight.
“King Pete” seems comfortable staying at or moving past the junior welterweight division.
“I’m still a 140 pounder. Any fight that comes in at 140 pounds, I will take it. If there’s no title involved or anything like that, I would fight anyone at 147, 154, any opportunity that makes sense, I will take it” said Peterson.
Prior to the Garcia fight, Peterson had been riding a two-fight win streak since his stoppage loss to Lucas Matthysse back in 2013. Peterson would no doubt like another shot at Matthysse as evident by his recent thoughts on Matthysse’s loss to Viktor Postol.
“He (Matthysse) was uncomfortable working as hard as he had to work, and he basically quit,” Peterson said. “I’m pretty sure if he felt like he was winning or he was going to win, he would have taken the eye injury and kept fighting. But because he knew he was losing, he took the easy way out.
“You can cut one of my legs off and I’ll fight you. If it happens in that ring, I’m going to fight. That’s what the doctor is there for, that’s what the referee is for, that’s what my coach is for. They can stop the fight. I’m not stopping.”
Against Diaz, Peterson will be facing a southpaw with whom he will have a height and reach advantage against but understands that he is in tough against a hungry 2008 Olympic gold medalist.
“I know a little bit about my opponent. I remember him from the amateur days. Fighting on the Dominican team in the Pan Am games and places like that where he would compete,” Peterson added.
“I remember watching him fight. He is a pretty tough guy. He was losing big and he actually came back and won the fight so I know he has a lot of heart. At the end of the day, I don’t think if he has enough experience. He might show some experience, but I’m not going to look at it.
“I’ve seen Diaz and I think he can fight. It’s obvious he can fight. He’s undefeated, but I really think when we get in the thick of this, experience is going to take over and I don’t think he is going to have enough to finish.”
Diaz last fought in April, a unanimous decision victory over Gabriel Bracero, his most credible opponent to date who recently destroyed Danny O’Conner with a destructive one-punch knockout. Against Bracero, Diaz blew open a relatively competitive fight in the eighth round with two knockdowns.
Diaz is a slick boxer who has been guided in the past year by top trainers Robert Garcia and Abel Sanchez. This will be a significant jump in competition for Diaz but he appears ready for the challenge.
“Just like everything in life, we have to climb. Beating Lamont would be reaching new heights in my career and my life. After the Olympics I took a year off to think about my future. And that break led me here,” said Diaz.
“I know what the whole world knows about Lamont Peterson. He’s a tremendous fighter…but that doesn’t matter. I’m still going to beat him. A world title shot is in my future and I think this fight is what’s going to open the door for me.”
Peterson may work from the outside using his physical advantages and look for opportunities to land something significant on his shorter opponent as he works his way in. The fight could tilt heavily in Peterson’s direction if Diaz is unable to negate Peterson’s length; however, if Diaz can get inside and use his skill set to steal rounds, things could get interesting.
One thing’s for sure, Peterson’s cardio should be top notch.
“I’m sure I’ve sparred at least 500 rounds this camp. There were some weeks this camp that I would spar up to 20 rounds every day” said Peterson.
If Peterson is victorious, there are many intriguing matchups at 140 such as a rematch with the aforementioned Matthysse, or a matchup with Adrien Broner or Terence Crawford. If he moves north, a few more rematches loom large in Garcia and Amir Khan who always seems to be looking for an opponent.
If Diaz pulls the upset, well, let’s just say he better wear shades because his future will be bright.
In the co-feature, Florida-born Puerto Rican and rising prospect Prichard “Digget” Colon (16-0 13 KO’s) will tussle with LA California’s Terrel Williams (14-0 12 KO’s) in a “somebody’s 0 must go” welterweight slugfest.
This will be Colon’s fifth fight in 2015 after seven in 2014. In 2015, he has collected three victories by stoppage and one by unanimous decision. His last fight, on Sept. 11, was a fourth round KO over former WBA World super lightweight titlist Vivian Harris.
Williams had his string of 12 straight stoppages snapped in his last bout, an eight-round unanimous decision in August over the only opponent he has ever faced with a winning record, John Williams.
With a combined 25 knock outs out of 30 fights between them, this should be an all-out war between the men who matchup physically with an almost identical height and reach. Don’t blink.
This PBC on NBC card will be an excellent little appetizer in the afternoon for the main course on Saturday night between Gennady Golovkin and Davie Lemieux.
-Rick Guerrero @lapittrick
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