By Mark Vester
Top Rank is already making moves to set up the first title defense of newly crowned WBO junior welterweight champion Kendall Holt. Last Saturday in Las Vegas, Holt knocked out Ricardo Torres in 61-seconds to capture the title in a wild first round. Holt was quickly dropped twice in the bout and came back later on with a wicked right to knock Torres out cold.
Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, told Keith "What The Heck" Idec that unbeaten prospect Lamont Peterson, who stopped Rogelio Castaneda on the Holt-Torres undercard, is a natural opponent for Holt's first defense. Top Rank has already spoken with Showtime about the fight.
"[Peterson is] an obvious, natural opponent for [Holt]," duBoef said. "And we have talked to Showtime about it."
Peterson is not alone. The WBO informed Top Rank that Willy Blain of France is the mandatory and Holt has to meet him within 120-days. Idec notes that Top Rank is able to apply for an extension if they want to push through the bout with Peterson.
Torres is hoping that a trilogy bout can be made with Holt down the line. He stopped Holt in a very controversial first fight last September in Colombia.
"I won the first time," Torres said. "The second time, I was winning the fight. It was very competitive. I think we're made for each other. I think we should do it a third time."
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