Peterson, Khan Ready To Get It On Again May 19

ByBoxing Press

On Saturday, May 19, 2012, fans at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev., as well as those watching around the world, will see one of boxing’s most intense grudge matches re-ignited when WBA Super Lightweight Super Champion and IBFJunior Welterweight Champion Lamont “Havoc” Peterson faces former Two-Time World Champion Amir “King” Khan in the highly anticipated rematch of their December 10, 2011 fight in Washington, DC in which DC native Peterson scored a title winning but controversial split decision victory over the United Kingdom’s Khan.

“I feel really good about my decision,” said Peterson. “I went over every option available to me in terms of the fights that were on the table. I weighed each one of them looking at the pros and the cons and at the end of the day this is the one that made the most sense all the way across the board. I want everyone to know that, as champion, it has always been up to me what fight to take next.

“I was not persuaded by any of the controversy or anything else. I just can’t wait to fight. I told Khan after the press conference when I won that if it was up to me I would fight him on Sunday, but I had to get with my team to look at every option that was out there. I just want to be clear that I never said I wouldn’t fight him, but I wanted to take a look at everything that was out there before I made a decision. I’m happy with the terms of the fight. It’s at a neutral site and, when I beat him this time, he won’t have anything to complain about.”

“I’m delighted that I have finally been given the chance to avenge the result of my last fight,” said Khan. “It’s clear I wasn’t happy with what went on in the previous fight, but that takes nothing away from how Lamont Peterson fought. He showed tremendous heart that night, but now I have the chance to prove once and for all that I’m the very best in the division. I’m going to take care of business inside the ring and this fight is going to be just as exciting as the last one. The only difference is going to be in the outcome.”

“I said before their first fight that this was an opportunity to see the two best super lightweights in the world compete at the highest level of the sport and neither Amir Khan nor Lamont Peterson disappointed the fans,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “To see them fight again so soon after their first match on neutral ground in Las Vegas is a treat for boxing fans around the world.”

“We are pleased with the decision to fight Khan for the second time,” said Barry Hunter, manager and trainer of Lamont Peterson. “I was extremely proud of Lamont with respect to this process. He took his time and looked at all of his options and he decided this was the best option available. Our preparation for this fight will be the same, it is going to be a hard fight and we will be ready for the challenge.”

“The Lamont Peterson-Amir Khan rematch is one of the most anticipated fights of 2012 and we’re delighted that HBO World Championship Boxing will be the television home for this encounter,” said Kery Davis, senior vice president programming, HBO Sports. “These two world class athletes are outstanding examples of perseverance and dedication.”

“Peterson vs. Khan II: No Doubt,” a 12-round Unified Super Lightweight World Title Fight for Peterson’s WBA Super Championship and IBF Championship taking place Saturday, May 19 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev. is presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Khan Promotions and Headbangers Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. The fight will be telecast live on HBO World Championship Boxing at 10:45 p.m. ET/7:45 p.m. PT in the United States and live on Sky Sports 1 HD in the United Kingdom at 11:00 p.m. GMT (beginning with David Price vs. Sam Sexton for the British Heavyweight title from Liverpool, followed by Peterson vs. Khan II).

Both fighters have agreed to be subject to Olympic style drug testing which will include random blood and urine tests.

Tickets priced at $300, $200, $150, $100 and $50, not including applicable service charges, are available for purchase at the Mandalay Bay box office and 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 are available for purchase at www.mandaylaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets for fans traveling from the United Kingdom are available for purchase online at www.sportscorporation.comor by calling +44 (0)845 163 0845.