Lamont Peterson will look to get his career going in a positive direction again when he faces off against Dierry Jean with the IBF junior welterweight title on the line on Jan. 25 at the D.C. Amory in Washington, D.C.
Peterson’s career appeared to be headed for big things after beating Amir Khan via split decision in December 2011, but a failed drug test resulted in Peterson being stripped of his WBA title and put a halt to the momentum that was building up.
After a 14 month layoff Peterson fought Kendall Holt and won impressively via Round 8 TKO last February, but then ran into the buzz saw they call Lucas Matthysse in May where he suffered the first early stoppage of his career losing by TKO in Round 3.
Despite the loss, if Peterson (31-2-1, 16 KOs) can focus and get back to the level he was at before the whole drug test debacle he has a bright future ahead of him in the sport.
With only two losses and those coming at the hands of two solid fighters in Matthysse and WBO welterweight champ Timothy Bradley, Peterson’s fight resume is still attractive enough to land big fights.
After this bout Peterson says he wants one more fight at 140 pounds before he moves up to the 147-pound welterweight division. That last bout at 140 pounds will be against undefeated champ Danny Garcia if Peterson gets his wish (per Bad Left Hook).
If Peterson defeats Jean and gives a respectable performance against Garcia in their possible bout, Peterson could find his name in the Floyd Mayweather sweepstakes once he makes the jump to 147 pounds. Peterson’s name is big enough in boxing to draw the attention of Mayweather, as only there are only a handful of fighters left that Mayweather could face without politics involved that make sense.
