Timothy Bradley versus Lamont Peterson

Hailing from Palm Springs, California, Tim "The Desert Storm" Bradley was raised to be a boxer. Trained by a former lightweight champion in Joel Diaz, Bradley began boxing at age 10 and as an amateur amassed 125 wins in 145 fights [See Here for information on Bradley's amateur career: http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Timothy_Bradley]. Bradley received quality experience as an amateur with fights against Alfredo Angulo, Andre Berto, and Vanes Martirosyan (boxers that fight in higher weight classes as professionals). These experiences undoubtedly shaped Bradley into the champion he is today.

Bradley talks about his childhood in Palm Springs in this Showtime interview:

As a professional, Bradley owns wins over Kendall Holt, Junior Witter, and Edner Cherry. Tonight, he faces perhaps his toughest assignment yet when he defends his belt against Lamont "Havoc" Peterson. For Bradley, his fight tonight with Peterson will not be easy.

Like Bradley, Peterson is no stranger to rising above adversity. For ten years, Peterson was homeless on the mean streets of Washington, D.C. without father or mother. It wasn't until shortly after his tenth birthday when Peterson met trainer, Barry Hunter, that his life finally changed for the better. It was then that Barry Hunter introduced Peterson to boxing and Peterson's rise to the top began.

Peterson, like Bradley, had an extensive amateur career. Peterson was the 2001 national golden gloves winner at lightweight with amateur wins over Andre Dirrell, Willy Blain, and Rock Allen. Recently, Peterson gained internet fame when he allegedly got the better of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in sparring [read his trainer, Hunter's description of the sparring sessions here: http://www.doghouseboxing.com/DHB/Kim121209.htm] . Peterson is taller (5'9 to Bradley's 5'6) and longer (74" reach to Bradley's 66" reach).

Bradley has the advantages of the fight taking place in his hometown and possessing the better professional resume. Although Bradley is the champion, Peterson is a live underdog. Indeed, the expert's predictions are varied:

Graham Houston, a boxing writer I admire at www.fightwriter.com, picked Peterson: http://www.fightwriter.com/?q=node/2510

As did Gabriel Montoya from www.Maxboxing.com: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/montoyas-mailbag

Although Tim Starks at www.queensberry-rules.com picks Bradley:
http://www.queensberry-rules.com/2009-articles/december/previewprediction-roundabout-timothy-bradley-lamont-peterson-vic-darchinyan-tomas-rojas-and-jean-pascal-adrian-diaconu-ii.html

Doug Fischer from Ring Magazine favors Bradley:
http://www.ringtv.com/blog/1412/dougies_fat_friday_mailbag/


As do most of the writers at www.fighthype.com,
http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content6473.html?PHPSESSID=bb4bd189af06b07e71132cf33aa78f9b