IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Lamont Peterson held an open workout in Washington, D.C. in preparation for his May 18 fight against Lucas Matthysse. Lightweight contender and Lamont’s brother Anthony Peterson as well as Three-Time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren and lightweight prospects Robert Easter and Jamel Herring joined Lamont at the Bald Eagle Recreation Center as they finalize preparations for their non-televised undercard bouts.
Photo: Undefeated lightweight prospect Robert Easter Jr., IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Lamont Peterson, Three-Time U.S. Olympian Rau’Shee Warren, Lightweight Contender Anthony Peterson and Undefeated 2012 U.S. Olympian Jamel Herring pose on May 9, 2013 in Washington, DC.
LAMONT PETERSON, IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion
“I’m not worried about Matthysse. I’ve known him for a while. He’s a strong guy. He’s going to bring it all night. Pretty much the way I like it to be and it’s going to be a great fight.
“Everyone keeps asking me about his [Matthysse] punching power. I know what I signed up for. I realize I’m going to get hit in the face, but I will be hitting him back. I’m not worried about taking a few punches. I’m prepared to go 12 rounds.
“I believe I’m at the top level, but at this point a win over Lucas [Matthysse] solidifies me as a top guy not only in the weight class, but a top 15 pound-for-pound guy in the game. It would lead to bigger fights. That’s where I want to land. If I were climbing a ladder, a win over Matthysse would be a big jump up to the top.
“I’ll feel my way through the fight in the first few rounds. We have game plans and will work through all of them, pick the best one and go from there.
“There is a lot of energy in the gym. The intensity is high. Everyday we train; everyone is encouraging each other inside and outside of the ring. We’re pushing each other and having fun at the same time. It’s always good to have fun while you’re working.
“I definitely wanted to get right back in the ring and capitalize on the performance I had in February. I’ve had a three-month layoff. I didn’t take too much contact in the Kendall Holt fight, so at I can’t wait to get out there and give a great performance.
“I think it will be a hard fought fight. We’re both going to be matching each other punch for punch. I’m not going to let him get an inch on me. I’m sure he is thinking the same thing.
“At the end of the day, I’m preparing for a hard fought 12 round fight. I’ll be there every step of the way. May the best man win, but I have more to my game and more strategies to work with.”
ANTHONY PETERSON, Lightweight Contender & Lamont’s Brother
“I’m preparing for a championship. That’s the ultimate goal. I want to be one of the top 10 in my division.
“I never want to fight my brother. There is always competition between us, but brotherly competition.
“I’ve been fighting forever. A long layoff isn’t a problem for me. I’m in the gym everyday preparing for this.
“I haven’t fought in 17 months and I’m itching to get back in the ring, but I’m not going to rush it. I’m not going to go in there looking for the knockout. I’m going to go in there and take my time.
RAU’SHEE WARREN, Three-Time U.S. Olympian
“I’ve been thinking about training with these guys since I found out I was fighting on a card with Lamont. This is like family. We are all training with each other. We’re all pushing each other and we’re going to give the crowd a show from the beginning to the end.
“This is going to be a crazy show. I know I’ve got the best outfit for my ring walk, but everyone else here is telling me they have something in mind and that’s how we do it here. Friendly competition all day.
“This training camp has been looser and different. The talent here isn’t half stepping it. We’re pushing each other to the next level and I’m loving it. I can’t wait for fight night.”
ROBERT EASTER, Lightweight Prospect
“Training with Lamont is great motivation because he’s a real champion. It motivates me and makes me train harder so I can get to where he is.
“I’ve been focusing on a lot of cardio to build stamina and strength. I need to get stronger in my weight division.
“My coaches [Mike Stafford and Barry Hunter] have been helping me a lot with my strength.
“I think it is going to be a quick fight because I have been preparing really well for this one. It should be a good fight for me.”
JAMEL HERRING, Lightweight Prospect
“The last time I fought in Atlantic City, I opened the show so I’m getting used to it. I just want to get everyone hyped up and start the night off right.
“Working along side Barry Hunter and Lamont Peterson has been so intense, but we’ve had fun overall.
“This camp has been a chance for me to learn and get great advice. Barry’s a great trainer and Lamont is a world champion. I’ve gotten a lot of experience in this camp. It’s a great atmosphere.”
BARRY HUNTER, Lamont & Anthony Petersons’ Trainer
“Lamont is a fighter that can make all kinds of adjustments in the ring. There are a lot of fighters that can’t go toe to toe [like he can].
“Lamont is a little more versatile than other fighters that I have seen and definitely more versatile than other fighters Matthysse has faced in the past.
“This fight ends with us raising our hands and going on to the next one.
“We’re approaching this fight differently than fights in the past. If you look around in the gym, there are a lot of people that Lamont has been sparring with – junior middleweights, middleweights and even light heavyweights.
“This isn’t anything that we can’t handle.
“All of Lamont’s other fights leading up to this point have been very good fights, some of them even great fights, but I believe this is the fight that can totally take him over the top and put him in the lotto for a fight with someone like a Floyd Mayweather.
“Lamont has had to deal with pressure his whole life. This fight, as opposed to some of the things he’s gone through as a kid, won’t get to him or shake his confidence.”
Peterson vs. Matthysse, a 12-round 141 pound catch-weight fight, will take place Saturday, May 18 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey and will be televised live on SHOWTIME® at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Tickets priced at $250, $125, $75, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
