Washington, DC - Lamont Peterson stunned Britain’s Amir Khan on Saturday, winning a split decision to take the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association light-welterweight world titles. Referee Joe Cooper took two points from Khan during the bout for shoving Peterson and they proved to be the margin of the Englishman’s defeat.
One judge saw Khan a 115-110 winner while the other two judged Peterson the victor by scores of 113-112, giving him the triumph. Hometown hero Peterson, once a homeless youth living on the streets of the US capital, improved to 30-1-1 before a sellout crowd at Washington Convention Center while Khan fell to 26-2 with his eight-fight win streak snapped.
Khan wants a rematch, but this time overseas in the UK. Peterson is willing - for the right price.
"I wouldn't mind doing it (in England)," Peterson said. "The deal would be right. Everything would have to be right. I would do it. If it's left up to me I would fight him tomorrow. It doesn't matter when. I'm always ready to fight."
