When I spoke with Lightweight contender Anthony Peterson a few months ago he was a little discouraged. Having just had a potential bout with recently crowned WBC champion Humberto Soto pulled out from under him, Peterson spoke with ample doses of frustration and curiosity on why he was thwarted of his desired opportunity. Soto would end up fighting on May 15th, winning a unanimous decision over Ricardo Dominguez and Peterson was left wondering ?what if??.
But just as one door closes another has opened for the 25-year old D.C. fighter, who is now penciled to be facing off with undefeated Brandon Rios in a WBA title eliminator. The bout pits two young and aggressive fighters against one another and will be hosted by the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada with HBO Boxing After Dark hosting the festivities.
Rios is coming off of a very impressive 3rd round TKO over Jorge Teron in which ?Bam Bam? simply overwhelmed with New York foe with his straight forward attack and power punching. The 23-yeard old Oxnard, California native was relatively unknown before that victory and will have a chance to break through against Peterson.
Peterson?s talent has always been apparent but fans and insiders have been dying to see him in with a serious threat. Peterson?s best attributes are his two fisted attack, tenacity, aggression, and work to the body. A bout with Soto would have given us many of the answers we were looking for from him yet a fight with Rios could prove to be even more entertaining and suspenseful.
