by James Slater – It always seems to make a big fight all the more interesting and exciting when both fighters enter the ring with unbeaten records – someone’s O must go and everything. And when WBO light-welterweight champion Timothy Bradley meets interim WBO champ Lamont Peterson on December 5th, this is what will happen. But whose O will go, 26-year-old “Desert Storm’s, or 25-year-old “Havoc’s?.”
Bradley, 24-0(11) is coming off a win that has been turned into a no-contest Vs. Nate Campbell, and he will likely be feeling a touch miffed right now due to the way his win was taken away from him (even though most experts feel as though justice has been done). Will Bradley look to take out his anger on Peterson? Both men came up together in the amateurs, and Bradley told this writer how he always did expect to cross paths with the slightly older of the two Peterson brothers in the paid ranks. Now he is about to do so.
Both brothers from Washington D.C, Lamont, 27-0(13) and lightweight contender Anthony, have made solid if unspectacular progress as pros. Lamont, in particular, has not won all that many fights by KO, even less in spectacular fashion. And Bradley, although always dangerous, is no monster puncher himself. It all adds up to a fight on December 5th that will likely see the final bell. Both men have good speed, great physical conditioning and stamina, and both Bradley and Peterson have a big will to win.
I think we will see something of a chess match in December, with both fighters having their moments of success. And despite the fact that he may be angry over the Campbell thing, Bradley is unlikely to go in gung-ho and come out blasting. Yes, “Desert Storm” wants eye-catching wins that he hopes will put him in a position to be able to land the mega-fights he craves, but he will treat the fighter he knows well with respect.
Of the two men, the “real” WBO ruler has certainly met the better fighters as a pro, and Bradley is really looking like a solid champion right now. Having seen off top quality foes such as Junior Witter, Kendall Holt and having retained against Campbell, there really is no reason to think Bradley will not be able to defeat Peterson. He may have to be at his best to do it, but that’s the thing, Bradley always is. There are no half-hearted showings on the part of the man from Palm Springs.
Look for Peterson to look good in certain rounds as he wins his share of points, but for Bradley’s higher work-rate and edge in hand speed to see him through to a reasonably comfortable decision victory. And maybe then a return with “The Galaxxy Warrior?”