by David P. Greisman
Saturday’s Showtime card at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, featured Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia fighting in separate bouts that they were expected to be win — and which were expected to set up a bout between the 140-pound titleholder and the lineal champion.
Peterson stopped Edgar Santana, while Garcia made brutally quick work of Rod Salka. The 30-year-old from Washington, D.C., spoke with reporters after the Santana fight and before Garcia-Salka, saying he still wants to face Garcia but hasn’t been given any guarantees nor sworn any promises that it’ll happen.
“I won’t be disappointed because I don’t like getting my hopes up,” Peterson said. “This boxing game is a business, and it have to make business sense. It’s the fight that I want, but I’m not really holding my breath.”
He said he didn’t seek any promises or guarantees either.
“I’m putting it out there,” Peterson said. “I’m not really worried about, you know, ‘Oh you got to fight me.’ I’m just not that type of person that’s going to be forcing the issue. I’ll just keep putting it out there that I’m willing to make the fight. That’s the fight that the fans want. “
Peterson said the fight makes more sense for it to happen at 140, but he would still take the fight if it were to happen anywhere between junior welterweight and welterweight. Meanwhile, he was complimentary of Garcia and the challenge the Philadelphian could pose.
“I know he’ll be a difficult fight. He’s a world champion. He’s at the top of the game. I want to be considered the best fighter in the division,” Peterson said. “He’s solid all the way around. Decent speed. Not the fastest guy in the world, but decent speed. Pretty good punch. I think his best thing is he take a good punch. You never really see him hurt or wobbled. He’s a good boxer-puncher, all-around solid fighter.”
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