Peterson retains IBF junior welterweight title
Lamont Peterson is lifted up in the ring after he beat Dierry Jean, of Canada, in the IBF Junior welterweight title boxing match, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, in Washington. AP
WASHINGTON, USA—Lamont Peterson retained the International Boxing Federation junior welterweight title Saturday night, unanimously outpointing previously undefeated Dierry Jean in front of a hometown crowd at the DC Armory.
Peterson (32-2-1) rebounded from a third-round technical knockout loss to Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse in a non-title fight in May in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Jean, from Montreal, dropped to 25-1.
Peterson, who turned 30 on Friday, won by scores of 118-111, 116-112, and 115-113.
There were no knockdowns and neither fighter ever appeared to be in serious trouble, but Peterson landed more and harder punches.
Referring to Peterson’s loss to Matthysse, Jean had said he would be able to take advantage of Peterson’s chin, but the champion withstood Jean’s best punches.
After an uneventful first round, Peterson scored with a left hook early in the second round, but Jean responded with a flurry late. Two judges gave Jean the second, third and fourth rounds.
Jean appeared to be tiring in the middle rounds and Peterson landed several punches with him against the ropes in the sixth.
Peterson continued to apply pressure late in the fight, but Jean withstood it. All three judges gave Peterson the final three rounds.
The 31-year-old Jean earned the title shot with a fourth-round TKO against Cleotis Pendarvis in an IBF elimination fight in May.
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