Amir Khan vs. Lamont Peterson Results: Peterson Wins, so What's Next for Him?

Amir Khan (26-2, 18 KO) came in this fight with Lamont Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KO) looking to showcase his growing skillset only to be humbled by his first loss in three years.

Peterson gave a great showing in his hometown of D.C. in the national's capital. Some will try to make excuses such as the referee not properly warning Khan before he penalized him for pushing and whatnot.

But let's be real here, Peterson delivered enough to make this a rather eventful night that could become the Upset of the Year and is candidate for Fight of the Year (I'm still stuck on Berto-Ortiz).

Now Peterson is in a great position to move up to a higher plateau of the sport. With a few carefully sought victories, Peterson can begin to rocket to stardom.

Here are the possibilities of what's next for Peterson.

Rematch Khan

This is the most obvious and most likely next option for Peterson. Khan wants the rematch and would like it in his homeland of England since he lost to Peterson in his hometown of Washington, D.C.

Peterson says he doesn't mind going to England for the right price. Peterson held out for a bigger slice of the pie before, there's no reason he couldn't do the same and possibly land his first million-dollar purse.

Khan will definitely want it in England so Peterson will have to improve exponentially in order to attain a more dominant win to offset the "home-field advantage."

Rematch Timothy Bradley

Peterson suffered his first loss to Bradley, why not return to whence he started? One first loss deserves another. Peterson was in a rather close battle with Bradley the first time. The second will still be close.

Peterson's learning how to turn the tides of an impending loss into sweet victory or at least a controversial draw as he did with Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO).

With Bradley finally making consistent million-dollar paydays with Top Rank Promotions, who are committed to trying to raise his profile, Peterson could likely get a good deal to face Bradley again.

And Peterson is a promotional free agent, which means Top Rank could represent both men and make more money as the only promoter involved. That's more incentive for Top Rank to want the rematch.

With an anticipated superfight with Khan now likely spoiled by the Peterson upset, Peterson-Bradley II is about the biggest money-generating bout in Bradley's immediate future that doesn't feature Pacquiao.

Rematch Victor Ortiz

Victor Ortiz knocked Peterson down twice in the third round of their first fight, but Peterson rallied back to manage a draw. Had he not been knocked down, Peterson would have won.

Maybe in a rematch, Peterson can box Ortiz and not get knocked down. The only problem is that this match would likely take place at welterweight (147 lbs). Ortiz is the bigger star at this point.

Ortiz, if he defeats Andre Berto (28-1, 22 KO) in their February rematch, will have the better negotiating power. One thing that can help Peterson is if Ortiz loses.

Losing two out of three world championship matches at welterweight may dishearten Ortiz, making him easier to tempt back to junior welterweight (140 lbs) to earn a world title that alluded him for years.

Both fighters have interesting personalities and backgrounds in poverty and dangerous streets that can be observed and discussed in a documentary series as well (HBO's 24/7, Showtime's Fight Camp 360).

Face Brandon Rios

Brandon Rios (29-0-1, 22 KO) struggled to make weight at his lightweight (135 lbs) championship contest against John Murray (31-2, 18 KO) on the Cotto-Margarito II undercard, resulting in a $20,000 penalty.

Rios' weight problems are so great that Bob Arum has decided to move him up to junior welterweight (140 lbs) next year, possibly to face Mike Alvarado (32-0, 23 KO). Peterson's success could push him aside.

Peterson is a double-champion at junior welterweight and is a free agent. Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions have done great business with free agents against their fighters before.

Arum's company does all the promotions and makes all the money in the fight and it's a world championship fight for two world titles, the IBF and WBA belts Peterson now owns, can it get any better?

Face the Winner of Erik Morales vs. Danny Garcia

Erik Morales (52-7, 36 KO) vs. Danny Garcia (22-0, 14 KO) is taking place on January 28. Peterson could face the winner likely some time between March and May.

Morales has the WBC junior welterweight (140 lbs) world championship and if he beats Garcia, Peterson could be waiting to engage him in a unification match. Morales is a great name on Peterson's resume.

If Garcia beats Morales, then Garcia could spin his recent win over Morales into a credibility-gaining venture to make a unification match against Peterson a viable match.

Fight on the Undercard of Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao on May 5

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao may finally be getting together to make the fight we all want to see happen.

Pacquiao is agreeing to random drug testing requested by Mayweather and Mayweather has expressed his willingness to fight. If the fight is made, it will be an incredible fight in need of an incredible undercard.

Any of the potential fights mentioned here for Peterson could land on the undercard of Mayweather-Pacquiao. Peterson's a good action-fighter and any of these choices would be a good action-fight.

Peterson and whoever his opponent turns out to be will certainly earn million-dollar paydays or something close to that figure. Landing on the undercard would be legacy-fulling and wallet-fattening.