By John F. McKenna (McJack)
New International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KO’s) wants a crack at World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) in 2012.
In an interview aired by Ring.TV Peterson’s trainer Barry Hunter said that Peterson was eager to fight “Pacman”. Hunter was quoted saying:
“If there’s an opportunity and it makes business sense, and it’s a situation that we feel we could go into and have a good chance at coming out on top then we’ll take a shot at it.”
Lamont earned a career high $650,000 in his controversial win over Amir Khan on December 10 in Washington, D.C.
Golden Boy Promotions, Khan’s promoter, has already offered Peterson a one million dollar purse for a rematch with Khan.
Peterson at 5’9” would have a nearly 3 inch height advantage over Pacquiao. Lamont would have to move up from light welterweight, where he now fights, to welterweight.
After the weigh in for the fight with Khan, Peterson had rehydrated up to 155 pounds by the time of the fight.
Timothy Bradley, who handed Peterson his only loss in 2009, is also being considered as a possible future opponent for Lamont. Obviously a fight with pound for pound king Pacquiao would be far more lucrative for Lamont. One of the drawbacks to a Peterson – Bradley fight is that Bradley has never demonstrated an ability to draw fans in large numbers.
With Floyd Mayweather Jr. now out of the picture there are a number of opponents being considered for a fight with Pacquiao, possibly in May or June of 2012. Among those being considered as possible opponents are Timothy Bradley, Miguel Cotto and Peterson.
Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz has stated that no decision will be made as to who Manny’s next opponent will be until after the holidays in January. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, Koncz and Pacquiao will confer and discuss the various options at that time.
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has made no secret of his desire to see Manny fight Peterson. Roach is also Amir Khan’s trainer and was in his corner on December 10 when Amir lost his IBF and WBA belts to Peterson.
