Pressure Over Finesse: Peterson Takes Khan’s Title On Split Decision

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After several decades, the nation’s capitol welcomed back the Sweet Science Saturday night (December 10) with a memorable victory for underdog Lamont Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KOs) over Amir Khan (26-2, 18 KOs) in championship bout that featured big exchanges and drama.

Khan, who promised a spectacular performance, looked on the way to just that in the first round. Khan was able to land first with lead left hooks on Peterson, who struggled to counter. Khan’s flurries earned him a dubious knockdown when both fighters got tangled up after a Khan right cross. Peterson also dropped the second, but started to make headway on the inside with strong hooks.

Peterson’s pressure got him on board in the third courtesy of wincing right hooks to the body. The skill disparity with their inside fighting skills became more apparent in the fourth as Peterson abused Khan with tripled left hooks and right hands. Khan responded with taunts and seeking to gain an advantage by simply out-throwing Peterson. However, the hometown fighter’s heavier, more damaging shots were clear.

Khan would show his championship resolve in the fifth and sixth rounds when Peterson suddenly slowed down. With room and time to throw, Khan re-established his jab and worked 3-4 punch combinations. Despite still landing telling blows like a bolo right uppercut in the fifth, Peterson’s offense was confined to one punch at a time.

The seventh would be huge turning point as Amir Khan was deducted one point for shoving after several rounds of warnings. The round 10-8 was key for Peterson, who had Khan in complete retreat with guard-splitting uppercuts and digging right hooks. Peterson continued his rally with more excellent body shots in the eighth that clearly hurt the champion. “DC! DC! DC!” chants rung throughout the audience as Peterson appeared on the verge of completely overwhelming his favored opponent.

Khan posted another rally in the ninth, this time behind fast hooks at mid-range. A left hook stunned Peterson badly. Khan followed up with two sharp right crosses, but Peterson fired back with two rights on a cornered Khan to close out the round. The 10th, which saw Khan stay off the ropes and back Peterson up with body shots and right crosses, would be one of unified WBA and IBF champion’s best rounds.

After fighting on even terms in the 11th, the stage was set for a decisive 12th. Khan started strong with movement, flurries and left hooks to pile up points. Peterson launched a rally behind his right hooks and found himself being shoved backwards by Khan to create space. The rough-housing was deemed flagrant by the referee, who took a second crucial point from the champion. Angered, Khan became wilder in the closing minute and landed a hard right cross. Peterson met the firepower with his own inside pressure which continued to the final bell.

Both fighters sported concerned post-fight expressions as the scorecards took nearly 10 minutes to compile. In the end, the excellent back and forth bout was came down to the last point deduction as Lamont Peterson won a split decision via scores of 113-112 twice and 111-114. Instead of deferring to his promoter, Lamont Peterson confirmed he would take an immediate rematch.

“I was a big underdog,” Peterson explained. “A lot of people thought Khan was gonna win. Early on they were probably saying ‘yeah, I knew it was going to be this way.’ I’m not just going to lay down for anyone. I fight the whole way through… I think they should’ve took points from him for holding my head down. A lot of times I didn’t bend all the way down and he would just pull my head down. He was pushing a lot but I didn’t mind it… I would definitely give him a rematch. He gave me a chance to fight for a world title. Why not? It was a good fight. I’m sure everyone enjoyed it. I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”

Khan, with rumors of possibly facing Floyd Mayweather now effectively squashed, viewed the fight as an injustice and the referee’s point deductions as signs of hometown favoritism.

“It was like I was against two people in there, the referee and Lamont himself,” said Khan to loud boos. “I was the more cleaner fighter. My jabs were getting to him. He gave me the warning but he was coming in so low with his head. Every time I tried to get him away from me he kept coming in low and lower… No wonder there’s never been boxing in DC for the last 20 years because this is what happens. He was the home fighter. I was against him and the referee…I’m ready for a rematch.”

Seth Mitchell (24-0-1, 18 KOs) laid claim as America’s most promising heavyweight prospect with a 2nd round demolition of Timur Ibragimov (30-4-1, 16 KOs). Mitchell took the first round behind a strong left jab and clubbing rights. Ibragimov also had a few decent moments where he landed right hands. In the second, Mitchell would counter Ibragimov with a short left hook that had the veteran contender reeling. Mitchell would pounce with a flurry of punches before calming down and looking for openings. It would come just a few seconds later when three hard right hands sent Ibragimov careening into the ropes. Another flush right prompted the referee stoppage.