Lamont Peterson Sucks, Tests Positive For Performance Enhancing Drugs

Chad Dawson and Bernard Hopkins squared off in a rematch, and for the first time it looked like the ageless Hopkins had legitimately lost a fight on the cards since losing to Roy Jones Jr. back in 1993. Though we wanted to see Manny Pacquiao in the ring against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 5th, Miguel Cotto stepped in and put on a gutsy performance and kept pace with Mayweather all night. And just when we thought things were turning around in the world of boxing, Lamont Peterson tests positive for performance enhancing drugs (testosterone pellets) on May 8th, and gets his rematch with Amir Khan cancelled.

After suffering a first round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott back in 2008, Amir Khan polished off eight quality opponents and moved up in weight, winning titles in the lightweight and light welterweight divisions. With an impressive streak and no signs of slowing down, a few more wins had him eying big pay per view money with possible fights against Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, and the cash cow in Floyd Mayweather. But of course, he had to get pass his newest contender, Lamont Peterson.

Going into the fight in December 2011, most ringside observers had Khan as the obvious favorite. Despite being able to knock Peterson down twice in the first round, Peterson was able to weather the Khan storm and walked away with the decision victory; as well as Khan's WBA and IBF light welterweight title belts. Khan was adamant in saying that he won the fight and thought he was cheated immediately after the decision was rendered. But hey, no one was really screaming foul play on the part of the judges. Peterson's slick boxing skills proved a tough task for Khan and he'd have to make good in a rematch.

In this Yahoo! Sports report, it is said that Peterson actually admits to having taken performance enhancing drugs as far back as a month before his first fight with Khan. It's bad enough that he tested positive on May 8th, but to make matters worse, this admission of guilt calls into question his victory over Khan. While the title of this post says Lamont Peterson "sucks", we're not talking about his boxing skills. Performance enhancing drugs didn't give it to him. The man can actually box. Yet, this new development will bring his entire career under scrutiny. Peterson boasts an impressive professional record with 32 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw with 15 knockouts. But Khan said, "I put him down twice in the first round and not many people come back from that. The way he came back was just unbelievable - and now we know why. ...The truth has come out now and it just proves that Lamont Peterson was a cheat."

With Peterson's admission, it is likely that he will be stripped of the titles and they will be returned to Khan. "We have informed the Washington commission and I suppose they will invalidate the result [of the fight in December]," Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer said. "It's certain we would have been doing so had it taken place in Las Vegas. I suspect the World Boxing Association and the International Boxing Federation will strip Mr. Peterson of his titles." The decision will likely be overturned and called no contest and Kahn will be able to return to business as usual, toting his title belts into a new fight as early as July. Peterson will likely have his license revoked and find it difficult to get another opportunity for a shot at a big title in some time. He could be out of the fight game for two years depending on how harsh sanctions are and if he can get other state commissions to approve him to fight. Less fights mean less money. That coupled with a fighter approaching thirty is not the best of scenarios. Boxing isn't always kind to aging fighters and this rematch could have catapulted him into star status had he won the day. Too bad it wont happen.

Well, that's another loss for boxing fans but another signature on the petition Floyd Mayweather has going around boxing circles for Olympic style testing in all fights. Hey Floyd, you've got our vote here at Ring & Cage.

Until next write...

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