By Igor Lazorin, tass

The interim-welterweight champion of the World Boxing Association (WBA), David Avanesyan of Russia, is being lined up to face former junior welterweight beltholder Lamont Peterson on a date in February in the United States.

"David has already started to prepare for a fight. It will be held in February in the United States," said the source with knowledge of the details.

Peterson has been out of the ring since winning a very close twelve round majority decision over Olympic gold medal winner Felix Diaz in October 2015. The win bounced Peterson back from a majority decision loss from earlier that year at the hands of Danny Garcia.

Peterson is a former WBA and International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior welterweight champion, and has a record of 34 victories (17 KOs), three defeats and one draw.

Avanesyan was last seen in the ring back in May, when he retained the WBA belt in a final eliminator against former three division world champion Shane Mosley. Avanesyan is now in line for the winner of March unification between Garcia and Keith Thurman. The decision win over Mosley raised his record to 22 victories (11 KOs), one loss and one draw.

Avanesyan hopes a win over Peterson will bring him one step closer to get Thurman or Garcia, while Peterson wants to make his mark in the welterweight division by securing a world title shot of his own.