CINCINNATI, OH — Lamont Peterson claimed the WBA World welterweight title with a hard-fought unanimous decision over David Avanesyan.
The rangier Peterson held the advantage at long range with an educated jab and lateral movement. However, the majority of the first-half was fought up-close with each fighter having success with short hooks and guard-splitting uppercuts. Avanesyan maintained the higher, more consistent work-rate while Peterson landed the harder single shots.
Peterson displayed his class in the second half with lateral movement to score creative body shots around Avanesyan’s guard. Starting late in the seventh, Avanesyan was forced to give ground due to Peterson’s bullying and prolonged body assault.
Final scorecards read 115-113 and 116-112 twice for Peterson, putting him in play for the winner of Keith Thurman vs. Danny Garcia on March 4.
