The Premier Boxing Champions Series returns Saturday on the NBC Network in prime time. The main event is an intriguing one as undefeated Danny Garcia, 29-0(17), takes on fellow title holder Lamont Peterson, 33-2-1 (17).
While both of these top fighters hold a portion of the 140 pound title, no belt is on the line in this catch weight bout. While no belts are on the line, plenty is at stake in this match up of the week. Both fighters come into the ring with some baggage they want to put behind them.
For Peterson, he is more known for the negatives in his career than his positives. Lamont’s biggest win against Amir Kahn was a disputed decision where a rematch had to be canceled because Peterson’s failed a substance abuse test. If you happened to forget about that, you will certainly remember Peterson being blown away by Lucas Martin Mattthysse, 36-3 (34), in three rounds.
Peterson is a good fighter and is not alone in being remembered more for his hiccups in boxing rather than his success. Mustatfa Hamsho was a wonderful middleweight contender, who beat many world class fighters, yet is remembered most for his two failed attempts at Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s crown.
Joe Frazier & Tommy Hearns are two all time greats and as popular as any pugilist who laced up the boxing gloves. However, if we are to evaluate them honestly the first thing that comes to mind with these fighters is their big knockout loses.
Peterson has a chance to erase this stigma with a big win over Danny Garcia Saturday in Brooklyn. It should be fun to see if he can pass this very hard test.
Danny Garcia is even odder as he is probably the most scrutinized undefeated fighter in years. Even with an impressive win over the aforementioned slugger Matthysse, many people feel the Argentinean’s eye closing had more to do with Garcia prevailing than the skills of the fighter who earned the W. If that were not enough, many people favor Lucas in a clamored for rematch.
What hurts Danny’s status, even more than that fight, is his last two. Most of the boxing world felt Garcia was bested, by often cheated Mauricio Herrera, 21-5(7), in Puerto Rico in March of 2014. Danny’s arrogance, as some took it, that he was a clear winner in that fight, with no rematch warranted, turned off a lot of boxing people. What made matters even worse was the choice of opponent after the Herrera decision, uninspired and unknown Rod Salka, 20-4(3).
Danny Garcia will put all of that behind him with an impressive win over Peterson. That kind of a win will propel Danny back to the status he once had. It should be fun to see if he can pass this very hard test.
One thing both fighters have to try and figure out is where they want to go from here. At a catchweight of 143 pounds this fight is sort of in limbo as far as the weight divisions of boxing. If both fighters cannot make 140 anymore, when will they make the plunge to the star studded 147 pound weight class?
It should be fun to see how it all plays out for these two talented boxers.
