This coming Friday the controversial Lamont Peterson (30-1-1, 15) will make the first defense of his IBF Light Welterweight title as he faces former WBO champion Kendall Holt (28-15, 16). This will be the champion's first bout since testing positive for performance enhancing drugs almost a year ago in the build up to his rematch with Amir Khan (which was later called off due to the positive test and subsequent ban from the sport). For the challenger it'll be a chance to re-establish himself as a top Light Welterweight after losses to Timothy Bradley, Kaizer Mabuza and Danny Grcia in recent years.
The champion starts as a clear betting favourite (priced around 2/7) despite his long layoff. He is a durable, hard working fighter who although not a massive puncher has a hurtful pop on his shots which keeps fighters honest, especially when he goes to the body. It's really the grit and determination that stands out the most about Peterson who, despite being knocked down numerous times, has refused to go away and instead forced his way back into bouts that he's been hurting in.
Peterson has been fighting in and around the world level since 2009 when he suffered the solitary defeat on his record to Timothy Bradley. Since then he has scored a draw with Victor Ortiz, a win over Victor Manuel Cayo and of course the controversial decision victory over Amir Khan. Overall it's not actually a bad record for the 29 year old who was tipped for the top from a young age.
Although nothing really stands out too much about Peterson he has an excellent motor, knows how to use his strengths, he's tough and he won't back down from a fight, especially not in Washington D.C, the same City that he was born in and defeated Khan in.
Aged 31 the challenger is the older man going into this bout, though also seen as the man with more top level experience having fought the likes of David Diaz, Isaac Hlatshwayo, Ricardo Torres (twice), Demetrius Hopkins, Timothy Bradley, Kaizer Mabuza and Danny Garcia. As well as the world level experience Holt is also seen as having a clear power edge despite his record not showing it though likewise he's also the less durable of the two men having been stopped 3 times in his 5 defeats.
Holt, known as "Rated R" has a laser guided right hand with real explosiveness on it. His KO's over the likes of Julio Diaz were nothing short of eye catching and whilst he can't always connect at the top level he does hurt fighters when he connects clean, twice scoring knockdowns against Timothy Bradley. Sadly he also often leaves himself open and whilst some of his losses are explainable (no harm losing to Bradley or Garcia) his opening round TKO loss to Thomas Davis back in 2004 really was a shock and showed he's not got granite in his chin.
If it comes to a shoot out Holt can certainly hurt Peterson, however Peterson could also hurt Holt. I'd not be shocked to see Peterson on the canvas at some point, however Holt can at times give rounds away and I think that could come back to haunt him here. Holt is unfortunate in that when he's a counter puncher he can be too passive (which effectively cost him again Bradley) but when he's aggressive he can often leave himself too open. I have a feeling we'll see the offensive Holt and we'll see him warn down late on by a determined Peterson who will look to make a statement in the final rounds.
Prediction-Peterson TKO10 (interestingly Peterson by stoppage is priced at 3/1)
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