“Peterson’s Perseverance Finally Pays Off with Rios Bout”

Writes Doug Fischer:

“Midway through ANTHONY PETERSON’s fight with Adan Hernandez on ESPN2 in June of 2006 it was clear the undefeated lightweight prospect was ready to advance to higher-profile challenges against the division’s top fighters.

“It didn’t matter that Peterson was only 21 years old at the time of the fight, which took place in Memphis, Tenn., on the eve of the Jermain Taylor-Winky Wright middleweight championship that was staged in the same city. It didn’t matter that the Washington, D.C. native was only in the 18th bout of his pro career or that he had gone directly from fighting in six- and eight-round bouts to a scheduled 12-rounder.

“Peterson outclassed the capable Texan over the championship distance with such poise and professionalism that most observers believed he would graduate from Friday Night Fights to HBO’s spotlight, where Taylor and Wright would battle it out a day later. The former amateur standout was so talented and technically sound that many boxing writers thought he would win a major world title within one or two years of the Hernandez bout.”

Read the full article HERE and Top Rank’s interview with Peterson HERE.