Danny Garcia remains undefeated after beating Lamont Peterson on Saturday night. But the non-title catchweight bout in Brooklyn, New York, was as close as the WBC and WBA “super” super-lightweight champion had come to losing in his 30-fight professional career.
Two judges scored it 115-113 and the third made it a draw at 114-114 to give Garcia a majority-decision victory that he probably deserved.
Peterson, who held the now vacant IBF junior super-lightweight belt and is a former WBA “super” champion, finished strongly after Garcia had made a profitable start.
The result took Garcia’s record to 30-0, including 17 wins inside the distance. Peterson’s fell to 33-3, with one draw and 17 knockouts.
The 27-year-old Garcia, from Philadelphia, capitalised on his ability to beat most opponents to the punch as his 31-year-old opponent struggled to score enough points in the first half of the fight. Peterson took control in the later rounds, capping his night with an impressive performance in the twelfth round.
Peterson, who frustrated Garcia at times with his nimble footwork, didn't like the decision but said he would be willing to go again.
"I am not so sure I gave him the early rounds," Peterson said. "He was missing a lot of punches and I was landing my jab. I would love a rematch."
"I did my part. I'm not calling it a robbery but it was a good fight. I don't expect an easy journey for me to get where I'm going. I feel great. That's probably the least contact I've ever had in a fight."
Peterson won the WBA and IBF “super” titles in December 2011 when he beat Amir Khan on a split decision. He was stripped of the WBA belt but retained the IBF belt in defences against Kendall Holt, Dierry Jean and Edgar Santana.
His only defeats were to Timothy Bradley, who beat him on points for the WBO title, and Lucas Matthysse, who stopped him in the third round.
