Golden Boy Boxing: Ortiz vs. Peterson December 11 In Las Vegas

Following a spectacular third round knockout victory over former World Champion Vivian Harris in September, super lightweight star “Vicious” Victor Ortiz continues his quest for the 140-pound title Saturday, Dec. 11, when he takes on fellow contender Lamont “Havoc” Peterson in the HBO-televised co-featured bout to Amir Khan vs. Marcos Maidana at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

“I’ve paid my dues and I’m ready for the fight on December 11,” said Ortiz. “Lamont Peterson is a great fighter, but we have worked on a lot of things in camp…I’m going to be ready, you’ll see it in the ring on December 11.”

Winner of four in a row including triumphs over high-profile opponents Antonio Diaz and former World Champions Nate Campbell and Vivian Harris, Ventura, California’s “Vicious” Victor Ortiz (28-2-1, 22 KOs) is just beginning to approach his prime at the age of 23.

One of the most popular young fighters in the game, in addition to the aforementioned vanquished foes, the hard-punching southpaw holds victories over Carlos Maussa, Jeff Resto and Mike Arnaoutis and is on a collision course with the top super lightweights in the game. Standing in the way of a world title shot for Ortiz is top contender Peterson.

“I think its going to come down to who executes their game plan better,” said Peterson. “I’m going to go in there and box Ortiz and in the end the end I know I will be the winner. I’m excited because the winner will deserve a shot at one of the titles.”

In the midst of a harrowing childhood, Lamont “Havoc” Peterson (28-1, 14 KOs) found solace in boxing and went on to an impressive amateur career that included a 2001 National Golden Gloves championship. The talented Washington, DC native carried that success into the professional game, where he won the NABO and NABF light welterweight titles before earning the WBO Interim light welterweight title with a 2009 win over Willy Blain.

Peterson would suffer his first professional loss via decision to World Champion Tim Bradley in his next bout, but in April, he bounced back with a seventh round TKO of Damian Fuller that put the 26-year-old back in the title hunt. He looks to continue on the road to a world championship with a win over Ortiz.

“Thunder & Lightning: Khan vs. Maidana,” a 12-round WBA Super Lightweight World Championship bout, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Khan Promotions and Universum Box Promotion and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and DeWalt Tools. Top rated super lightweight contenders Victor Ortiz and Lamont Peterson will square off in a ten-round co-featured bout on the HBO World Championship Boxing broadcast which begins at 9:30pm ET / 6:30pm PT.

Tickets, priced at $350, $250, $150, $100 and $50 are on sale and available for purchase at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will be available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com