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FORMER HOMELESS KID IS NOW BOXING?S KING By Rich Mazon PhilBoxing.com Sun, 11 Dec 2011  (A COMPLETE ROUND BY ROUND ACCOUNT OF 2011?S FIGHT OF THE YEAR FRONTRUNNER) Washington, D.C. - In the seat of power at the nation?s capital and the city he calls home, Lamont Peterson did what no one outside of his team believed he can do. That is to come victorious tonight against the king of the Junior Welterweight Division in Amir Khan. A task that is seemingly impossible for this 7-1 underdog going to last night?s fight at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center here in Washington, D.C. A task that seemed destined to end early for him, as he dropped to the canvas in the opening round of his 12 round championship bout with Khan. He was dropped twice in the initial round of their fight but was lucky that only one was acknowledged as such by referee Joseph Cooper. Khan peppered him with fast combinations right from the get go as the Bolton, England fighter asserted dominance early in the round and in the fight. A knockdown in the last minute of the round came from those fast combos of Khan. Khan continued his dominance in the 2nd, pulling out three, four and even five punch combinations on the surprised Peterson. When Peterson went back to his corner, his trainer, Barry Hunter who has not only been their coach but a father figure as well, was a picture of agitation and alarm as he shouted and yelled at Peterson and pointed to his chest as if egging him to wake up from his stupor. That was enough for Peterson to wake up indeed as he stood up from his stool early and with a new look of determination on his eyes, went on attack mode against Khan. He landed solid blows on Khan?s body and head, stunning the Olympian who went into retreat after that. It was Khan?s turn to get up early from his stool in the 4th, as if wanting to get back the round he lost. But his desire to make up for it was stopped when Peterson landed an early left straight to his face. Khan also ate an uppercut from the DC fighter as sweat beads flew from his head as it swings backwards from the force of the punch. It was not only sweat that flew out of Khan?s, he also spitted blood after taking the hit. Peterson then focused his attack on Khan?s body who is now once again retreat mode. That two good rounds for Peterson was enough for the sell out crowd of close to 9000 to be up on their feet in excitement. The loud crowd from the nation?s capital egged and cheered for their home bred fighter. But Khan also brought with him a large number of fans who calls themselves as ?Khan?s Army. They were armed with blowing horns and passionate cheering for their Olympic silver medalist who was just earlier seemed to be in control of the fight. Their cheering though was muted after Peterson landed those hard blows on Khan. Peterson found Khan again in the 5th with a vicious uppercut which Khan took well. Not only did he take it well, he once again launched his armada of fast combinations on Peterson. He threw them and got out of Peterson?s way right after landing them, thereby avoiding the dreaded uppercuts and straights that has already made his left eye swollen with still 7 more rounds to spare. He finished the round with a 1-2 combo that scored on the pursuing opponent. Peterson?s game plan was evident by the 6th. He clearly aims to weaken Khan by looking to land at his core first. He follows that with hooks and straights to Khan?s head. That strategy put Khan further in retreat mode as he circled around the ring with Peterson in pursuit. His pursuit caught Khan in the ropes as he landed hard shots on him. But Khan took and withstood those blows and cleverly inched his way out of trouble in the round. He started fast in the 7th, probably knowing that he might be behind in the cards or maybe he was following instructions of newly inducted Boxing Hall of Famer Freddie Roach. But he found himself at the ropes again and at the end of a hard right and left hook from Peterson. But like earlier, Khan seemed to master the art of evading additional assault from his attacking opponent. But that came with a cost as Referee Cooper deducted a point from him for pushing as he wards off Peterson. Peterson had a big round 8 as he pummeled Khan with big head shots that drew big reaction from his hometown fans. They were ecstatic as Peterson landed those ?wow? inducing blows on Khan. The loud DC crowd were clearly appreciative of their guy?s efforts and performance halfway in the fight. Those big shots clearly hurt Khan as he hid behind his raised hands to block Peterson?s punches. Roach and trainer Alex Ariza tended to Khan immediately as he returned to the corner after that round. He came back a different guy after that break as he took the upper role this time in the 9th round of this war of a match. He launched his fast hands again on Peterson, with one of them halting Peterson on his tracks. His knees buckled from it but he held his ground avoiding kissing the canvas yet again. He avoided the canvas but his right eye developed noticeable swelling from Khan?s flurry of punches. That was enough to awaken the quiet ?Khan?s Army? in the building as they cheered on their guy to continue his burst of attack. Their blow horns blew harder and shouts of ?King Khan? accompanied it. Khan caught Peterson with his active hands in the 10th but Peterson took it and came back with hard shots of his own as he forced Khan back to the ropes. Khan was the busier fighter though as his hands did not show signs of slowing down after ten grueling rounds of a possible front runner of 2011?s Fight of the Year. Peterson resumed his pressing attack in the 11th round forcing Khan back to the ropes yet again. Khan would then react by holding on to Peterson as if he was holding on to dear life. he knew he is in the fight of his early boxing life tonight against a partisan crowd across the Atlantic. They were patriotically chanting ?DC, DC? in the country?s center of political power. That seemed to inspire Peterson as he did not let go of his assault on Khan like a soldier out on a mission for his Commander in Chief. Khan responded well like a wounded warrior in the 12th and final round of the fight. His fast hands were there yet again as if the fight has only started. A series of four punch combos landed for him. But his aggression was halted when he was deducted another point by Cooper for hitting on a break. That drew instant protest from Khan, his corner and his fans who let out a big howl after that controversial call by the referee. That furthered his desperation as he finished the fight with his trademark combinations. The decision came and it did not come that quickly as the crowd waited in anticipation of the results of the bout which is now in the hands of the three judges at ringside. The announcement came and the result was 12 round Majority Decision for the new Junior Lightweight Champ of the world in Lamont Peterson. Famed ring announcer erroneously mentioned it as a Split Decision victory for Peterson. The scores were 113-112 times two for Peterson and a lone favorable score of 114-111 for Khan. The decision was greeted with a favorable reaction and cheering from this mostly pro-Peterson audience. That was in contrast to the sad and appalled reaction from Khan?s part of the crowd. Referee Cooper?s deductions, particularly the last one in the 12th left a big feeling of doubt as to the fairness of the third man in the ring. A feeling that Khan and his team shared and voiced out after the fight in the press conference following it. Khan and Peterson fought a December war to remember. One that will once again test the boxing world?s ability to score and judge a close fight. One that has not yet closed the book from another close encounter last month in Las Vegas in the third Pacquiao - Marquez fight. That is what a fight this close can do to the sport?s myriad of followers and fans. One that will clearly be debated days and weeks from last night?s battle. One that will never be as conclusive as Lamont Peterson would want it to be. But that will be far from Peterson?s mind today. It was a battle that he fought well. One that tested him and where he retaliated back with firm resolved and determination. One that he has learned not only in the ring but also from his experiences in the street of Washington, DC...literally. The former homeless kid is now the king of the world. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .  |
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