Lamont Peterson Steps Up This Weekend Against Timothy Bradley
While hardcore fans know his name, casual observers might still be asking Lamont… who? Lamont Peterson plans to change that perception this weekend, when he meets champion, former buddy and fellow undefeated fighter Timothy Bradley in a junior welterweight title fight. Peterson has a strong team to count on to back him up, including his undefeated brother, lightweight Anthony Peterson. Here’s a look inside Peterson’s training camp.
In a battle of unbeatens, Timothy Bradley (24-0-1 NC, 11 KOs), of Palm Springs, Calif., will defend his World Boxing Association (WBO) Junior Welterweight title against interim champ Lamont Peterson (27-0, 13 KOs) of Washington, D.C., this Saturday, Dec. 12 LIVE on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).
The story of Peterson and his brother Anthony (shown together in first attached photo from a previous fight) is one of the most compelling in a sport filled with rags-to-riches tales. It hasn’t been an easy road for the pair, who were left homeless after their father landed in jail for a drug conviction, leaving the pair fighting on the streets to survive.
After years of homelessness and jumping from foster home to foster home in Washington D.C., the Petersons were discovered by trainer Barry Hunter, who took them to his gym and taught them the sweet science. Boxing gave them discipline, hope and the goal to become world champions.
Also included in the attached photos are Lamont’s brother-in-law Patrice Harris (working the mitts in third image) and Hunter (fourth photo). Finally, Peterson’s entire team assembled for a photograph on Wednesday in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Peterson is coming off a seventh-round TKO over previously unbeaten Willy Blain on April 25, 2009 for the interim WBO junior welterweight title.
Image Credits: Tom Casino / Showtime
