By Nick Bellafatto
Aptly billed as “Redemption,” that’s just what IBF junior welterweight champion and persona challenged Lamont “Havoc” Peterson (31-1-1, 16 KO’s) would get to an extent in his first major title defense.
Battering opponent Kendall “Rated R” Holt (28-6, 16 KO’s) until prevented from doing so by intervening yet imported referee Tony Weeks, the end would come at 1:42 of the eighth round courtesy of a fight finishing barrage on tonight’s highly anticipated version of Friday Night Fights.
Able to handle what the perceivably harder punching Holt of Patterson, New Jersey had to offer up, what Lamont Peterson does best, i.e. coming forward to break opponents down, he was able to do both convincingly and with fervor before adoring hometown fans at the D.C. Armory in the nation’s capital.
Rounds 1 and 2 would be banked by Peterson, who working at range behind a long jab would display excellent head and upper body movement, the same of which would cause Holt to swing and miss quite markedly.
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Subsequently, “Havoc” Peterson would strangely go defensive, all but allowing the challenger to have his way en-route to throwing round 3. It’s as if Peterson was trying to get a read on Holt in order to map out a plan of attack.
Doing much the same over the first half of round 4, Lamont midway would change gears and with it the face of the fight whereby he would usher in that plan of attack, uncorking some hefty body blows.
This maneuver would not only wear on Holt to slow him down, but Kendall would lower his guard, only to become victimized by a Lamont Peterson overhand right that would drop the challenger to his knees.
On shaky legs Holt would beat the count, to thereafter languish on the ropes whereby if it weren’t for the sound of the bell the fight may have ended then and there.
Even though decisively winning the ensuing round, Lamont was unable to pick up where he left off, admittedly winded against Holt who by this juncture would be reduced to a shell. “I saw he was slowing down just a little bit” but “I kinda expended myself trying to get him out of there so I had to catch my second wind”, said Lamont.
In charge and in control through rounds 6 and 7 by way of landing hard flurries, although somewhat conservative in that Peterson would endeavor not to punch himself out, he would then connect with a hard 1-2 combo, the effects of which would cause an out of sorts Holt to backpedal against the ropes.
Sensing the time was right to let it all go, “Havoc” Peterson would hammer away at his opponent until victory was certain. “When I gathered some energy I would go out and try to go for the stoppage. It just so happens the last time I caught him on the ropes and I just let my hands go,” stated the defending champion.
An impressive win for Golden Boy Promotions latest sign-ons who just happens to be in one of boxing’s hottest division’s. And in looking forward, Peterson would love nothing more than to further un-tarnish his somewhat sordid reputation, a reputation gained as a result of testosterone ingestion.
With that action Lamont would be stripped of the WBA 140 pound title he acquired at the expense of Amir Khan, a trinket in the forefront of his mind. “I’m a little bitter about the WBA belt being taken from me and I want to show everybody that I deserve that belt. So you know Danny Garcia holds that belt. If they can match it up, you know I would like that fight.”
As concerns former junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt in his bid to repeat history, a sub par performance along with a strong showing by his opponent this night would prevent him from doing so.
In summation a disconcerted Holt would put it this way. “I stayed on my bike a little too long,”. I think I would have done a better job if I had mixed it up a little bit more” but “I couldn’t pull the trigger. I’m gonna go back and reevaluate things that are going on in my life. If I can’t stay a little bit busier I’m gonna have to give my career a second thought. Think about hanging em up.
