Promoter Gary Shaw has confirmed a report by ESPN.com that an agreement in principle has been made for his fighter, ex-beltholder Kendall Holt, of Paterson, N.J., to challenge IBF junior welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson on Feb. 22 at The D.C. Armory in the nation’s capital.

The clash between Peterson (30-1-1, 15 knockouts) and Holt (28-5, 16 KOs) would be televised on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, according to Shaw.

Peterson, who will turn 29 on Jan. 24, had been ordered to defend his belt against mandatory challenger Holt, for which Shaw offered up $50,000 to win the purse bid and the right to promote their clash, which will take place in Peterson’s hometown.

“We have an agreement,” said Shaw. “The signatures will happen this coming week. This all just happened late this afternoon.”

Peterson is 3-0-1 with two knockouts since falling by unanimous decision to current WBO welterweight beltholder Tim Bradley as a 140-pounder in December of 2009, and is coming off a split-decision over Amir Khan in December of 2011.

Holt, 31, twice dropped Bradley to the canvas before losing his WBO title by unanimous decision in April of 2009, but has since gone 3-2 with three stoppage victories, including a second-round knockout of Tim Coleman in his last fight in March.

Prior to facing Coleman, Holt lost by split decision in October of 2011 to current RING, WBA and WBC 140-pound champion Danny Garcia.

Peterson, his manager and trainer, Barry Hunter, IBF President Daryl Peoples and IBF Championships Chairman Lindsay Tucker could not be reached for an immediate comment.

Peterson had been considered for a March rematch with Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs), according to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who handles Bradley.

Arum is out of the country vacationing until Jan. 10 and could not be reached for an immediate comment.

“We’re going to see if we can arrange for Bradley and Peterson in March,” said Arum during an earlier interview with RingTV.com. “We haven’t gotten as far as [determining a location.]”

Peterson’s victory over Khan attracted around 10,000 fans to the Washington, D.C. Convention Center.

“I think that D.C. is a great fight town,” said Shaw. “I think that it’s under-utilized, and I think that the town has great fight fans and a great history. I think that the fight will do well.”

Photo by Delane Rouse, Hogan Photos, Golden Boy Promotions

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]