Lamont Peterson dazzled in front of his hometown crowd on Saturday night scoring a unanimous decision victory over Dierry Jean to retain his IBF Junior Welterweight World Championship from the DC Armory in Washington, D.C., live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.
Peterson (32-2-1, 16 KO’s) and Jean (25-1, 17 KO’s) kicked off the 2014 boxing calendar with an action-packed aggressive showdown. Jean began with a patient approach, looking to test the chin of Peterson after his devastating knockout loss last May against Lucas Matthysse. By midway through the fight Peterson made it clear that loss had no affect on him as he became the aggressor, putting on a show for his hometown crowd. As the fight progressed Peterson outworked and outlanded his opponent using combinations, speed and agility. At the end of the fight SHOWTIME Sports analyst and former World Champion Paulie Malignaggi emphatically stated, “Lamont clearly proved that he is still a force to be reckoned with at 140 pounds.” The judges scored the bout 115-113, 116-112 and 118-111.
In the co-main event, 23-year-old top junior middleweight prospect Jermell Charlo remained undefeated in a unanimous decision victory over gutsy veteran Gabriel Rosado.
After the fight Peterson said, “I knew that this was his [Jean’s] first title fight and this is a big stage. I knew regardless of what he said he would have some type of nerves. At the end of the day I was in shape and I was able to hold the rounds. I would like to be considered the best 140-pound fighter in the world before I leave [the division]. If it means Danny Garcia is next then that’s what it is.”
When asked how long it took to get over his loss against Matthysse, Peterson said, “At the end of that night I sat and thought all night and I came to an understanding of why I lost. Then I moved on. I was over it in 24 hours.”
Speaking to the crowd of 5,668, Peterson said, “I love my city. My city loves me.”
When asked about the loss, Jean chalked it up to the inexperience of this being his first title fight saying, “I think it is just a matter of experience. Life goes on you know. I am definitely leaving with my head held high. I have all of my fans with me and I fought a hard fight.”
Jermell Charlo scored the biggest win of his career when he scored a 10 round unanimous decision over former two-time world title challenger Gabriel Rosado in a Jr. Middleweight bout.
Charlo was effective early by sharp shooting with the left hook when Rosado would come in. Rosadi’s left eye began to swell in round four and was cut in round five from what was ruled a punch. Rosado fought well through the fight but Charlo was more active and was pinpoint with his punches.
Charlo, 153 lbs of Houston, TX won by scores of 97-93, 99-91 and 100-90 and is now 23-0. Rosado, 154 lbs of Philadelphia, PA is now 21-8-1.
After the fight, Charlo acknowledged his opponent saying, “Rosado is a tough fighter. He came to fight. He did exactly what we trained for. He’s my strongest fight to date. He did what he had to do. It’s about being in shape. It’s about being in shape to do what we do.”
Speaking about the cut, Charlo said, “Once I saw the eye leaking, I told myself let’s finish this eye up and see what the doctors do. I told you if his eye holds up, we are going to get some work in.”
Rosado also addressed the cut saying, “It’s kind of like my Achilles heel. It’s really tender so it just gets cut early. It is what it is. I am kind of… it’s disappointed. I am forced to fight this way, aggressive. Charlo boxed a good fight but it’s a little frustrating that I have to fight a different style. I have to fight aggressively [because of the judges]. It’s crazy because I didn’t get a round.”
three-rime U.S. Olympian, Rau’she Warren scored an easy 8 round unanimous decision over German Meraz in a Bantamweight bout.
Warren dominated the fight with his superior boxing skills. In the final round, he dropped Meraz with a straight left hand.
Warren, 118 1/2 lbs of Cincinnati, OH won by scores of 80-72 and 80-71 twice and is now 18-0. Meraz, 119 lbs of Sonora, MX is now 33-28-1.
Good looking lightweight prospect Robert Easter Jr. went the distance for the first time and scored a 8 round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Daniel Attah.
Eatser dominated the bout and scored knockdowns in round’s three and eight from right hands and he cruised home by scores of 80-70 on all cards.
Easter, 134 lbs of Toledo, OH is now 9-0. Attah, 134 1/2 lbs of Washington, DC is now 28-18-1-1.
