By Chris Robinson 
 
The boxing world was hit with some shattering news on Monday when it was reported that IBF/WBA junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson has tested positive for synthetic testosterone ahead of his May 19th rematch with Amir Khan, set to take place at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
 
The news, as originally reported by Gabriel Montoya at MaxBoxing.com, is shocking given Peterson’s standup image and the Khan rematch is now in jeopardy. Peterson upset Khan last December in a terrific brawl over twelve fierce rounds and there was a lot of buzz heading into their second go-round.
 
So surprising is it to hear Peterson’s name connected to a banned substance, that some are quick to stand up for the fighter, including strength and conditioning coach James 'DJ' Montanocordoba, who worked with Lamont briefly prior to his December 2009 challenge of Timothy Bradley’s WBO junior welterweight belt.
 
Speaking on the issue, Montanocordoba, who now works with WBA junior featherweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, offered up his opinion.
 
“Sometimes there are people who come into boxing and they know how to do conditioning and they know nutrition, and sometimes these boxers trust people and sometimes even the person who give it to them, it not aware of the damage it can do,” stated Montanocordoba.
 
Montanocordoba feels that Peterson’s nature as a person may have backfired on him in this particular case.
 
“I know Lamont and Lamont as a fighter, as a person, he opens up to you and lets you do your job,” Montanocordoba continued. “He’s a very trusting person. Lamont is not going to jeopardize his career. He’s not going to go and try that sh*t. Honestly, I think it's the type of thing that sometimes people aren’t aware of things. I never believe he would deliberately do something that way. I don’t believe one of his people are going to do something deliberately.”
 
And despite spending just ten days in camp with Peterson in late 2009, Montanocordoba never suspected any kind of wrongdoing taking place within his team.
 
“When I camp with Lamont for Timothy Bradley, I was called by the Top Rank people and the Top Rank people talked to Lamont’s trainer,” said Montanocordoba. “But, I even knew them before but when I flew to Vegas and it was a good experience. I came up with a program and nobody stood in my way. Every single person in that camp worked with me. I just did a program and he was a having a little difficulty making the weight. In the short period of time that we worked, we were able to make the weight and he was able to go twelve rounds.”
 
Regardless of how emphatic Montanocordoba or others are about Peterson’s intentions, the reality is that his reputation is now at stake because of the recent findings.
 
Expect more in the coming days as the story unfolds.

Tags: Lamont Peterson