Edwin Valero vs Lamont Peterson Close: Is This the Right Fight for Valero?

It seems that a deal is close for an Edwin Valero fight against Lamont Peterson. Hopefully this can get signed because it is the right fight for Valero on many levels. Peterson is the perfect type of fighter for Valero who should give him a good challenge, but fall short.

A little bit on Peterson before we get into why this is the right fight for Valero. Peterson is a well schooled boxer who was a seven-time Amateur National Champion, US Olympic Committee, 2003 Athlete of the Year, Member 2003 Pan Am Games, and first alternate 2004 United States Olympic Team. So he obviously had a good amateur career.

As far as the pros go he has showed good boxing skills and some pop. He has knocked out 13 people in his 27 wins. He is mainly a boxer though when it comes down to it. He has a solid chin even though he tasted canvas against Timothy Bradley who isn’t a huge puncher (11 KO‘s in 25 wins).

He doesn’t have a really big name on his resume outside of the loss to Bradley. His best win is Humberto Toledo or Willy Blain. Neither are stars but they are solid wins nonetheless.

Now back to why this is the perfect fight for Valero. Peterson is coming off a fight where yes he did lose but he gained some fans and defiantly got his name out there. Peterson is a top 15 or 20 contender and is respected within boxing. He isn’t the biggest name in the division but he is a well schooled boxer who isn’t a slouch.

Peterson has some pop as I said earlier but would rather box his way to a win. He can’t mix it up with Valero or he will be caught cold and knocked out. His chin seems to be solid but he hasn’t faced a big puncher like Valero. Being put down by Bradley raises concerns about his chin.

Also Peterson isn’t a very tall fighter. Valero has faced two men taller than Peterson (Antonio DeMarco in his last fight, and Aram Ramazyan in 2005). The height shouldn’t be a problem since we saw him break down DeMarco in his last fight who is an inch taller than Peterson.

The things Peterson does have going for him is his boxing skills. He has the background and could box his way to a win if he completes his game plan to a T. The biggest factor in this fight will be Peterson’s reach. He has an above average reach of 74” which is the longest Valero will have ever seen (three inches longer than DeMarco‘s 71“).

If Peterson can keep a stiff jab in Valero’s face and make him think about coming in then he has a good chance. Also Valero will be the smaller man so Peterson could use that to his advantage as well. In the end I think Valero will be able to break Peterson down and get to him late in the fight. This is the perfect fight for Valero to make the jump up to Light Welterweight…or is it?



(Sources: http://www.prizefightpromoters.com/bio_lamontpeterson.php
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=25506
www.boxrec.com)