By Jeff Sorby: Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer is planning on getting IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KO’s) back in the ring on May 18th to face WBC interim light welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse (33-2, 31 KO’s) on the undercard of the fight between IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander and Kell Brook on Showtime, according to Dan Rafael.
Schaefer wants the Peterson-Matthysse fight to take place in Peterson’s home city of Washington, DC.
Peterson stopped Kendall Holt in the 8th round last night in Washington, DC. After the fight, Peterson said he’s interested in facing Matthysse, Amir Khan or Danny Garcia next. Golden Boy likely won’t let Peterson face Khan next because they want to keep Khan winning long enough to put him in with Danny Garcia for a rematch.
They’re likely to continue to match Khan against guys they know he can beat until he gets the Garcia rematch. Peterson beat Khan by a 12 round decision in December 2011. Likewise, Peterson won’t get a fight against Garcia until after Garcia faces Khan in 2013. That leaves only Matthysse on his list.
It would be surprising if Matthysse agrees to fight Peterson in his home city of Washington, DC because Matthysse has been on the receiving end of two highly controversial decisions in the recent past when he chose to fight Zab Judah and Devon Alexander in their home cities and ended up losing by close decisions.
It’s doubtful Matthysse will want to go through that ordeal again, especially when a lot of boxing fans felt that Peterson’s win over Khan was controversial. Golden Boy could possibly lure Matthysse to face Peterson in Washington, DC if they make him understand the good payday he’ll get by fighting Peterson there. Peterson draws huge crowds at home, and if Matthysse can share in the gate money then he’ll do alright, but he’s going to have to really put it on Peterson in this fight because he’ll be the visiting fighter again.