Things were looking pretty bleak for Lamont Peterson on the night of December 11th. Facing off with talented southpaw Victor Ortiz at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Peterson found himself tasting canvas on two occasions in the third round of their junior welterweight clash after absorbing some piercing blows from his Oxnard foe and seemed to be on weary legs. A stoppage loss seemed to be just around the corner for the D.C. fighter, a defeat that would surely have sunk his career for the moment.
Realizing that he needed to make a stand for himself and his career, Peterson would dig deep and show true grit and poise as he dug himself out of the hole he was in. The tide of the fight would continuously shift and after ten rounds a majority decision was the verdict. While being denied of victory, Peterson was able to come away without seeing his stock plummet and now appears to be the frontrunner to land an April showdown with WBA champion Amir Khan in England.
Things are definitely looking up for Peterson and during our conversation earlier today he discussed several aspects of a potential battle with Khan, from finding a way to defeat the British star to his thoughts on his victory over Marcos Maidana last month. Peterson also gave his take on Timothy Bradley, the only man to hand him a defeat, and his January 29th date with Devon Alexander.
Read on for all of Peterson?s thoughts?
Staying cool during the third round of the Ortiz fight? ?I think that?s what I was working on in the gym throughout the whole the training camp. In the Timothy Bradley fight I was knocked down in the third round and just lost my cool from there and just wanted to fight him and get that one punch back. This time in the gym I worked on trying to stay cool and sticking with the game plan. That?s what I was thinking about and that?s what I did.?
Ready for the challenge of Amir Khan? ?I would love the fight with Khan. I think Khan is a good fighter. He?s a good boxer; speed, and foot movement and he has everything that you need in a fighter. He?s a champion and I want the fight. I would love to have that WBA belt around my waist. I just like fighting the top guys and at the end of the day one loss doesn?t define who is the best in the division. It seems like a lot of people made up their minds that the undefeated fighters are the best but there is so much talent in this division that I think everyone is going to have a loss eventually in a year or two. At the end of the day I think I?ll be the better one of them all.?
Slideshow: Jeff Mayweather on the Pacquiao-Mosley drug testing demands
A different look? ?His speed is the main thing. He throws a lot of good, fast combinations together. He uses his jab well and that?s another thing that I would have to worry about. What I think is when he is throwing those combinations I would try to come between those punches. The fact that he?s always fighting guys who aren?t as tall as him or arms aren?t as long as he is; and I match him on both of them. I would be a different look for him. I think I?ll give him problems.?
Khan?s wild victory over Marcos Maidana? ?I thought they both did good. They both acted to their game plans but in the beginning Khan was just racked up on the points. By the Maidana started doing what I knew he wanted to do I knew it was too late. But he almost got him out of there in the tenth. The fight could have been over right there.?
No worries? ?I know once I take the fight and once I knew we?re going to fight I?m not worrying about the crowd [in England] because that?s nothing that I can control. A lot of people ask me if I worrying about he judging and referees but I tell them that I only can control what goes on in the ring as far as me and Khan fighting. That?s all I?m going to worry about. I never worry about nothing that I can?t control.?
Timothy Bradley vs. Devon Alexander? ?It?s going to be a great fight. I know that both are going to be throwing a lot of punches, I know that for sure. It all comes down to game plans and who executes the game plan the best. On experience and all that I think I will go with a slight edge for Timothy but Devon has a lot of talent and you never know. I don?t know either of their game plans and I can?t really call it. I just want to see a good fight. Both of them are cool and I have never had any problems with them. It?s not like we ever hung out or nothing like that. I know both of them, I respect both of them, and they are cool guys.?
The return of his brother, lightweight contender Lamont? ?I don?t know right now but he?s in the gym training. Any call could come up. They are working for a fight for him now but nothing is set. He is just anxious to get back in the ring and he?s training really hard right now.?
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
