Golden Boy Promotions made surprise announcement earlier this afternoon with the signing of former junior welterweight titlist Lamont Peterson.
Peterson has been inactive since December 2011 when he scored a controversial split decision over Amir Khan. Their anticipated rematch in early 2012 was cancelled when Peterson’s use of synthetic tablets caused him to test positive for illegal levels of testosterone.
Peterson, who has a nationally-televised comeback fight on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights against Kendall Holt on February 22, expects to jump right back in the title hunt by the end of the year:
I am excited about signing with Golden Boy Promotions and the opportunity to work with them again. Being with Golden Boy really gives me the chance to make the best fights available in my weight class. I want to fight the best in the world at 140 [pounds] and I know it can happen as a member of the Golden Boy team. I am optimistic that this is a decision that will help further my career.
We boxers are always trying to please our fans. We want to give them the best fights we can. In order to do that, one needs to have the best promoter in the market so you can get the best fights you can. Who’s the best promoter in the market? Golden Boy. So, I decided to go ahead and sign with them and sign with the best there is.
Signing with Golden Boy is the best thing to do. They have the best fighters and at this point, after winning my last fight against Amir Khan, it makes sense to fight the top guys.
I’m training hard for my next fight and I’m going to keep on doing it. I feel I have some things to prove. I’m confident I’ll come out victorious and I’ll move on.
It feels good to be part of the Golden Boy Promotions team. It’s definitely a great feeling. At this point, my brother and I are trying to sign up with big promoters and do everything we can to keep on growing in the sport.
Golden Boy’s top junior welterweights include Lucas Matthysse, Amir Khan and current WBC and WBA champion Danny Garcia.
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Even with Peterson’s recent checkered past, I like this signing. Should Peterson get by Holt, and that’s no guarantee after a year-plus layoff, Peterson would have ready-made match-ups with either Khan, Garcia or Matthysse. And all three would be very good style matchups.
If forced to pick, give me Peterson-Matthysse. They could bill it as “Amino Acid 4500 vs. Testosterone Tablets.”
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 