Newly crowned light welterweight world champion Lamont Peterson stunned England?s Amir Khan and boxing fans around the world with a hard fought and competitive twelve round split decision victory moments ago at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, as seen live on HBO. Khan came blazing out of the gate and landed an array of stunning and lightning fast power shots in Round 1, decking Peterson in the final minute. Just when it looked like Khan was going to outclass the American challenger, Peterson came roaring back in Round 3 and hurt Khan with some well placed power shots. Peterson picked up steam from there and began to take the fight to Khan in the middle rounds. Khan found a second gear at the half way mark and the bout became very interesting as both men gave as good as they got.
The American went to the body with vigor in the middle rounds and continued to press Khan at every turn.
Peterson had a big Round 7 and in the closing moments of the stanza Khan had a point deducted for pushing.
In the eighth Khan exploded with a series of uppercuts that seemed to turn the tide in his favour but remarkably Peterson fired back late in the round as the drama continued to mount.
In the championship rounds Khan boxed well but was constantly on the move while Peterson looked to press forward. The fight appeared on the table in the final two rounds and Peterson fought with a great deal of fire in the eleventh as he chased a fleet footed Khan all around the ring.
In the twelfth and final round both men came out firing but Khan was deducted another point for pushing mid way through. Sensing the fouls may have put him in a hole Khan let his hands go but Peterson continued to walk forward as he?d done the whole night.
After twelve rounds were in the book the official scores were read as 113-112 (x2) for Peterson and 114-111 Khan.
Peterson shocks the world and captures the WBA and IBF 140-pound world titles via split decision victory! Stay tuned for more from Washington.
