It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.
Vince Lombardi
The last time boxing fans saw Lamont Peterson was in Atlantic City, New Jersey against Lucas Matthysse. A fight where the winner would face Danny Garcia to lay claim to the best 140lb boxer in the world. The night ended with Matthysse dismantling Peterson in 3 rounds.
Fast Forward 8 months and Peterson was finally back in the ring in his hometown against a relatively unknown undefeated fighter from Canada. Thierry Jean. A pro Peterson crowd filled the DC Armory, scalpers were trying to sell 25 dollar seats for 40 or more dollars, inside DC was awaiting their hometown kid.
The fight started out with both men trying to establish their game plan on one another-Peterson trying to use his reach and outbox the faster Jean, Jean for his part was the aggressor early on, stalking Peterson and landing some power punches.
However as the rounds kept piling up Peterson showed his experience by truing the tides and landing some hard shots in the 5th round even show boating a little. All to the delight if the pro Peterson crowd.
The sixth round started with Peterson attacking Jean from the get go, swarming Jean in the corner but as the round ended Jean established small flurries were not going to stop Jean. In the next few rounds Peterson established the same routine as the better boxer and he outworked Jean, catching Jean on the ropes. To Jean’s credit, he stayed competitive and willing to make it a fight.
However in the end, Jean’s record would sustain it’s first loss.
Peterson with his win puts his name back in the mix for any of the big names in the 140lb division, or at least ones not affiliated with Top Rank. As Peterson stated after the fight he wants Danny Garcia. Which is not a bad match up. Peterson has earned the big names in the division, he’s fought the best and while he has not always came out on top, he’s a fighter. He brings the heart and passion fight fans love to see from a boxer.
And just like seeing Peterson come back from a devastating loss, fight fans will get to see another former champ return to the ring when Victor Ortiz faces off against Luis Callazo from the Barclay’s arena Thursday night. This will be the first time Ortiz has been in the ring in over a year and a half. His last loss was at the hands of fringe contender Joseito Lopez when Ortiz failed to answer the bell indicating that his jaw was broken. That was in June of 2012.
However while Ortiz has been out of the ring for some time, he has been able to do other creative things such as “Dancing with the stars”, red carpets events and most recently he was cast in the action film the “Expendables 3”, needless to say, Ortiz has had some great opportunities that did not involve getting punched in the face.
Which begs the question. Is Ortiz coming back for good or is this a temporary stint? Furthermore, does Ortiz have what it takes to actually want to fight? There is no denying the fact, boxing is a rough sport. The successful ones are few and far between, the sacrifice these fighters make is extraordinary and Ortiz has had great opportunities that have allowed him not to box. Many also believe that Ortiz is a head case and most are expecting him to quit as he has twice before.
Thursday night boxing fans will finally get to see if this is Ortiz last stand. Win and there are some big names out there for him. Lose and this may be the end of “Vicious” Victor Ortiz as a boxer.