Former two-weight champion, Lamont Peterson has called time on his career as a boxer after being stopped in devastating fashion against Sergey Lipinets on Sunday morning.
The 35 year-old American from Washington, D.C had won 35 on his previous 40 bouts going into his fight with his Russian opponent but looked a shadow of his former self as he took regular punishment during the fight held at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Earlier in the night, Lamont had watched his younger brother Anthony Peterson (37-1-1 24KO’s, 1 nc.) battle Argenis Mendez (25-5-2 17KO’s, 1 nc.) to a split draw over 10 rounds on the undercard, and looked to steal the show in the main event.
Sergey Lipinets (15-1 11KO’s),the former IBF super-lightweight champion had lost his belt on points to pound-for-pound superstar and four-weight world champion Mikey Garcia in March of last year and was looking to come back into title contention.
Lamont Peterson (35-5-1 17KO’s) was coming of the back of a stoppage loss to IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. in January 2018, when he was retired after seven rounds and new that defeat would not give him many options in pursuing ambitions to reclaim a world title.
In a thrilling back and forth opening salvo, both boxers began to land heavy punches whilst exchanging but as the bout progressed, Lipinets’ stamina began to prove dividend as he built up a lead on the scorecards. The American’s eyes began to swell leading him to take more risks.
Toward the end of the 10th round of a scheduled 12th, Peterson was caught by a flurry of hard punches and dropped with a left-hook, with Peterson swollen and damaged, his head trainer Barry Hunter threw in the towel as he stumbled back to his feet.
Visibly damaged and deflated, Peterson announced his retirement in the ring during the post-fight interview.
Peterson’s standout career moments were beating Amir Khan by split decision in 2011 to win the unified WBA (super) and IBF super-lightweight titles in his hometown of Washington, D.C and winning the WBA (regular) welterweight title against David Avanesyan in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He came up short against Spence Jr, in attempt to become unified champion but leaves with his held held high and the knowledge that he made a significant contribution and impression on one the world’s toughest sports; gaining respect and admiration along the way from fans and fighters alike.
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