The experts weigh in on Lamont Peterson-Dierry Jean
Junior welterweights Dierry Jean and Lamont Peterson were last in the ring in May. Each experienced vastly different results.
A 31-year-old Hatian-born resident of Quebec, Jean scored a fourth-round TKO over Cleotis Pendarvis on May 10. Eight days later, Peterson was floored three times during a third-round stoppage loss to Lucas Matthysse in a non-title bout.
On Saturday night, a day after his 30th birthday, Peterson (31-2-1, 16 knockouts) will put his IBF belt on the line against Jean (25-0, 17 KOs) at the D.C. Armory in Peterson's native Washington, D.C.
While Jean has promised to "remind" the titleholder of "that nightmare that he had" against Matthysse, Peterson insists that the challenger will discover "that there's a difference when you're on the top level."
Peterson is 4-1-1, with three knockout victories since falling by unanimous decision to current WBO 147-pound beltholder Tim Bradley as a 140-pounder in December of 2009, but was stopped for the first time in his career by Matthysse.
"Despite the fact that Lamont Peterson holds a version of the 140-pound title it’s unlikely that he carries a championship mentality," states Tom Gray of RingTV.com. "Lucas Matthysse annihilated the Washington star in May of last year and this is Peterson’s first time back on the horse. Dierry Jean lacks title fight experience, but he’s unbeaten, fresh and hungry."
Peterson has, however, been in with several top-notch opponents, having scored a disputed split-decision that dethroned Amir Khan in December of 2011 and an eighth-round knockout of ex-beltholder Kendall Holt in February of last year.
Peterson also rose from two third-round knockdowns while battling to a draw with former welterweight beltholder Victor Ortiz when they were both 140-pounders in December of 2010.
As it did during his bouts against Holt and Khan, each of which were in Washington, D.C., Peterson said that he will be motivated by the hometown advantage.
But will all of that make a difference on Saturday night?
"Lamont Peterson has to deal with the ghosts of the savage Lucas Matthysse KO, and fighting at home will help with some of that," states Lee Groves, RingTV.com. "Dierry Jean, in turn, must deal with the nerves that come with one's first major title fight."
RingTV.com sought the opinions of 18 insiders as to their thoughts concerning what will transpire in Peterson-Jean.
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Dierry Jean SD 12 Lamont Peterson: It's a significant step up for Dierry Jean, but I like him to join fellow Haitian-Canadian boxers Adonis Stevenson and Jean Pascal in the winner's circle over Lamont Peterson.
A knockout might be needed to win on the road, but I see Jean's forthcoming inspired effort properly rewarded by at least two judges.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal W 12 Bute]
Norm Frauenheim, THE RING magazine, www.15rounds.com
Lamont Peterson UD 12 Dierry Jean: It’s hard to know who to pick, mostly because it’s hard to know who will show up. Lamont Peterson might not be the same fighter in his first bout since suffering a nightmare stoppage in losing to Lucas Matthysse.
History is littered with examples of fighters who are never the same after that kind of defeat. Maybe, Peterson is different. He has shown resilience. He’s at home. Against Dierry Jean, however, he’s facing another unknown. Jean is unbeaten, yet his 25-0 record includes opposition no better known than he is. Jean, a Canadian, has fought outside of Quebec only twice.
He’ll find himself in place he’s never been and against a fighter who has the world-class experience he’s never encountered. Maybe, that’ll be enough of an edge for Peterson in a fight to restore his identity.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal TKO 8 Bute]
Jeffrey Freeman, www.KODigest.TV
Lamont Peterson W12 Dierry Jean: If recent history is any indication of what to expect, Dierry Jean will land on top of the Armory in Washington DC like a Superman movie villain and pull off the upset over a more experienced champion who really should have lost his title in his last fight when he was knocked out by Lucas Matthysse.
If Jean can take a page from countryman Adonis Stevenson's comic book and land a super punch of his own on Lamont Peterson's chin, things could get interesting like they did last year when Stevenson upset Chad Dawson in Canada. But that's not what I expect here in the defending IBF junior welterweight champ's backyard.
Instead, I see Peterson using his experience advantage and superior boxing skills to distance himself from his upstart challenger both in the ring and on the scorecards. Peterson wins a competitive unanimous decision in an entertaining scrap.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal W 12 Bute]
Gregory Fulton, guest/fan, Baltimore, Md.
Dierry Jean SD 12 Lamont Peterson: Dierry "Dougy" Jean is a Haitian-born Canadian boxer. Just like Jean Pascal. Just like Adonis Stevenson. He'll be in great shape and is 31. This may be his only shot. Lamont Peterson's team picked him because of his record, but more so because of his lack of world-class experience.
We will continue to witness the Haitian-Canadian takeover as "Dougy" will start slow, but his conditioning will win him this fight in the trenches. He will outwork Peterson enough to win a split-decision — even in DC. Look for another Haitian-Canadian world champion.
Record: 0-0
Dierry Jean UD12 Lamont Peterson: Despite the fact that Lamont Peterson holds a version of the 140-pound title it’s unlikely that he carries a championship mentality.
Lucas Matthysse annihilated the Washington star in May of last year and this is Peterson’s first time back on the horse. Dierry Jean lacks title fight experience, but he’s unbeaten, fresh and hungry. I think Peterson has had his kicks and I expect to see a new champion at the end of twelve rounds.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal TKO 10 Bute]
Lamont Peterson W 12 Dierry Jean: Lamont Peterson has to deal with the ghosts of the savage Lucas Matthysse KO, and fighting at home will help with some of that.
Dierry Jean, in turn, must deal with the nerves that come with one's first major title fight. I believe Peterson's superior experience against world-class competition will prove to be the difference and if he's whole physically and mentally he should have enough to win a competitive decision.
Record: 0-0
Andreas Hale, KnockoutNation.com
Lamont Peterson UD 12 Dierry Jean: Lamont Peterson has something to prove against Dierry Jean on Saturday night. After being demolished by Lucas Matthysse, many will wonder if Peterson can bounce back.
Jean is the perfect fighter for Peterson to get himself back on track but a mystery to most. Even though Jean is unbeaten, you'll be hard pressed to find a name on his resume that is even remotely close to Peterson's caliber (Cleotis Pendarvis anyone?). Nevertheless, Jean is a slick boxer who has displayed some power against lesser competition.
Peterson's pressure will be key as he is a notoriously slow starter who takes a couple rounds to get warm. It will be up to Jean to take those rounds and test Peterson's chin. However, as the fight progresses, I expect Peterson's aggression will allow him to take the fight inside and punish Jean to the body and land a few of those wide hooks to the head to rack up points and take the decision.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal UD 12 Bute]
Keith Idec, The Record/BoxingScene.com
Lamont Peterson UD12 Dierry Jean: Lamont Peterson should be able to bounce back from his devastating defeat to Lucas Matthysse, the first knockout loss of his career.
Dierry Jean is an above-average puncher, but not nearly as powerful as Matthysse, who overwhelmed Peterson to win by third-round knockout.
Peterson's experience against a much higher level of opposition should serve him well. He'll go to the body all night and out-work Jean to win comfortably on points in his hometown.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal TKO 10 Bute]
Ryan Maquinana, CSNBAYAREA/BoxingScene.com
Lamont Peterson W12 Dierry Jean: Dierry Jean's an up-and-comer who can punch, but he's relatively untested, and Lamont Peterson is his first bona fide world-class opponent.
Though Peterson is coming off a brutal stoppage loss to Lucas Matthysse, I think the Washingtonian's wealth of experience and ability to box when necessary will take him back to the win column.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal W 12 Bute]
Rich Marotta, KFI Radio, Los Angeles
Dierry Jean KO-8 Lamont Peterson: An interesteing and intriguing fight and a crossroads battle for Lamont Peterson. Much depends on how Dierry Jean fights. If he goes to that "Ingemar Johannson" offense that he employed againt Cleotis Pendarvis of pawing jab after jab after jab and then launching the right, he may wait all night.
He is going to have to do more offensively. He's got plenty of tools, but he better let his hands go or Peterson will dominate. I suspect Jean will do that. Peterson should have lots of success early in the fight, and build an early lead.
However, he has been through a lot of wars. If Jean is relentless with forward movement, punches to the body and head, he will wear down Lamont, then land that big right somewhere in the middle of the fight and it will be all over.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal TKO 11 Bute]
John J. Raspanti, Doghouseboxing.com/KO Monthly Magazine/examiner.com
Lamont Peterson W12 Dierry Jean: IBF junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson returns to the ring for the first time since being blasted out in three rounds by Lucas Matthysse. Peterson said recently that he’s over the loss.
Dierry Jean is undefeated as a professional, but relatively unknown. He earned his shot at the title by knocking out Cleotis Pendarvis last May.
Peterson might not be fully recovered from being knocked out, but it seems unlikely that Jean can win a decision in his hometown. I see Peterson rallying in the later rounds to win by unanimous decision.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal MD 12 Bute]
Dierry Jean W 12 Lamont Peterson: Lamont Peterson continuing to make 140 is probably tough, and Dierry Jean is going to be as ready as he can be. I like the mild upset here.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal KO Bute]
Michael Rosenthal, THE RING Magazine
Lamont Peterson UD 12 Dierry Jean: Dierry Jean is a good, athletic contender but doesn't have anywhere near the power of Lucas Matthysse, which led to Lamont Peterson's undoing in May. Peterson will match up well with Jean in terms of skills but is must more experienced at this level and won't be hurt. Peterson by unanimous decision.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal W 12 Bute]
Joseph Santoliquito/THE RING Magazine/RingTV.com/CBS Sports
Lamont Peterson KO 10 Dierry Jean: Lamont Peterson has something to prove here. He got swallowed whole by Lucas Matthysse and wants to what I am sure will be a raucous, partisan home crowd a show against an undefeated 31-year old who hasn't been in with anyone. Peterson smashes Dierry Jean.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal KO 10 Bute]
John Scully, former trainer of RING and WBC lightheavyweight champion Chad Dawson
Lamont Peterson W 12 Dierry Jean: Lamont Peterson-Dierry Jean: I'm seeing Lamont using faster hands and a gritty mix of boxing and slugging to come away with a clear decision in a strongly contested match.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal W 12 Bute]
Dierry Jean W 12 Lamont Peterson: I'm picking Dierry Jean by decision. I think he's the fresher fighter, but I think there's a lot to learn about him given that this is such a steep step-up in competition. I think he'll be fine, and his confidence level must be higher than Lamont Peterson's.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal W 12 Bute]
Lamont Peterson TKO 10 Dierry Jean: In terms of big fight experience this is a complete mismatch. Dierry Jean has only seen the ninth round on three occasions compared to 10 for Lamont Peterson. Jean has not fought a name opponent that a casual boxing fan would recognize, while Peterson has fought the very top of the division.
Combine all of that with the fact that the fight is taking place in the hometown of Peterson, and conventional wisdom says that he shouldn't have much of a problem. However, Lamont Peterson has been off for eight months, and he is coming off a knockout loss.
Anything can happen in boxing, and the one thing that Jean can do is crack with both hands. I look for Peterson's experience to be the deciding factor in a one-sided victory.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal UD 12 Bute]
Lamont Peterson W 12 Dierry Jean: It will be interesting to see how Lamont Peterson bounces back from the Lucas Matthysse loss and also to see how Dierry Jean performs away from home in front of a pro Peterson crowd in the biggest fight of his career against the best opponent he's met to date.
All told, I think Peterson will bank a few early rounds and while Jean will do well and win his share of rounds Peterson's greater championship no how and hometown support will see him over the line, winning a close decision.
Record: 1-0 [Last pick: Pascal W 12 Bute]
By a margin of 12-to-6, experts have chosen Lamont Peterson to successfully defend his IBF 140-pound belt, handing Dierry Jean his first career loss.
Read more:
Jim Lampley, experts weigh in on Jean Pascal-Lucian Bute
Photo / Tom Casino-SHOWTIME
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