The final press conference for the much anticipated Capital Showdown fight between Britain's fighter, Amir Khan and Washington, DC native Lamont Peterson, was held yesterday at the DC Convention Center, the site of the HBO televised event.
Lamont Peterson (r) poses with Amir Khan. Photo /CD Brown. More photos here.
"We know how good Lamont is. He's strong. He's only lost one fight in his whole career. It's going to be a tough night and you have a lot of support here, but I think we will have a lot more support [than people think]", said Khan who was presented with a birthday cake at the event in celebration of his 25th birthday yesterday.
Khan, who is Pakistani, may feel like he has the weight of both worlds (Britain and Pakistan) on his shoulders right now. It will be his chance to show the world a different side of a country than what is seen on TV.
"This will put Pakistan on the map", said a member of the Pakistani media. "All we're known for is being terrorist."
The fighters have been training for the last two months, if not longer, and are ready to do battle.
Anthony Peterson, also a fighter on the card and brother to the evening's main event fighter, Lamont Peterson, advises the audience on Saturday night "not to blink".
Anthony, currently ranked #1 in the lightweight division by the WBO, last fought fifteen months ago.
Telling the audience he's tired of talking got straight to the point saying, "The only thing I can say is keep your eyes open and don't blink, because I got a lot of stuff to get off my chest on Saturday."
His brother Lamont, expected to win the bout for hometown bragging rights in the Main Event said, "I've been talking for two months now. I'm tired of talking. I'm ready to fight", said Lamont Peterson, the #1 Rated IBF Super Lightweight contender.
Seth Mitchell weighing in at Seth Mitchell 240. Timor Ibragimov weighed in at 221. More weigh-in photos here.
Heavyweight contender, Seth Mitchell, the co-Main event on the card, echoed that sentiment.
"I'm excited about the fight and I'm anxious. I'm tired of training."
Mitchell will war with Timur Ibragimov, who hails from Moscow, for heavyweight bragging rights.
Of Ibragimov Mitchell said, "I respect my opponent a lot, but come December 10, I'm pretty sure he won't respect me and I won't respect him either."
The fight will help solidify heavyweight boxing at time when the division seems to be lacking good opponents and matches.
"The state of heavyweight boxing right now is dead", said the legendary Pepe Correa, former trainer to Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Durán, and Lennox Lewis.
"However, if Mitchell does well Saturday night, this could put heavyweight boxing back on the map", Correa told us.
All fighters have a lot at stake: reputation, credibility, audience, a larger pay day, and and even larger fan base.
Said Mitchell, "I'm ready. I feel that it's my time."
See final press conference pics here.
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In other area boxing related news.
Joseph Robert, founder of Fight For Children, has passed.
Joe Robert (seated center) at the November, 2011 Fight For Children gala.
Robert founded the annual Fight Night charity boxing event in 1990. The annual event brings celebrity-like business, sports and government icons together for an evening to raise money for disadvantage children in the DC region.
Robert made his last appearance at November's Fight Night were he announced he would pledge $1 million of his own money to continue the organization’s work. (Our coverage "here).
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More Fight News
We also learned that tickets for the February 11, 2011 Jimmy Lange boxing event at the Patriot Center has been discounted 25%, thru Christmas Eve on ticket amounts of $75, $125, $200, $300 and $500 tickets (offer does not apply to $35 and $50 tickets) at 25% off when buying in person at the Patriot Center Box Office or going online to Ticketmaster’s web site.
The February 11 event will feature three world title fights, headlined by Lange’s World Boxing Union (WBU) junior middleweight title defense and top local female boxer, Tori Nelson, fighting for the World International Boxing Association (WIBA) middleweight championship. An exciting co-main event for a world title will also be added to the lineup with an announcement forthcoming. The card will also feature rising local junior welterweight Todd “White Lightning” Wilson. The previously announced Zain “Tiger” Shah vs. Tony “No Better” Jeter bout has fallen out. All bouts are subject to change.
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Fighter Weights For Capital Showdown, with undercard performers.
Amir Khan 139 vs. Lamont Peterson 140
Seth Mitchell 240 1/2 vs. Timor Ibragimov 221
Anthony Peterson 137 vs. Daniel Attah 136
Fernando Guerrero 162 vs. Robert Kliewer 161
Jamie Kavanaugh 135 vs. Ramsies Gil 135
Thomas Williams, Jr. 174 vs. Reynaldo Rodriguez 171
Dusty Harrison 144 vs. Terrell Davis 146
Terron Grant 134 vs. Deshawn Autry 134
Joshua Davis 134 vs. Chris Russell 134
(H/T to BATB).
More fighter info here.
"We know how good Lamont is. He's strong. He's only lost one fight in his whole career. It's going to be a tough night and you have a lot of support here, but I think we will have a lot more support [than people think]", said Khan who was presented with a birthday cake at the event in celebration of his 25th birthday yesterday.
Khan, who is Pakistani, may feel like he has the weight of both worlds (Britain and Pakistan) on his shoulders right now. It will be his chance to show the world a different side of a country than what is seen on TV.
"This will put Pakistan on the map", said a member of the Pakistani media. "All we're known for is being terrorist."
The fighters have been training for the last two months, if not longer, and are ready to do battle.
Anthony Peterson, also a fighter on the card and brother to the evening's main event fighter, Lamont Peterson, advises the audience on Saturday night "not to blink".
Anthony, currently ranked #1 in the lightweight division by the WBO, last fought fifteen months ago.
Telling the audience he's tired of talking got straight to the point saying, "The only thing I can say is keep your eyes open and don't blink, because I got a lot of stuff to get off my chest on Saturday."
His brother Lamont, expected to win the bout for hometown bragging rights in the Main Event said, "I've been talking for two months now. I'm tired of talking. I'm ready to fight", said Lamont Peterson, the #1 Rated IBF Super Lightweight contender.
Heavyweight contender, Seth Mitchell, the co-Main event on the card, echoed that sentiment.
"I'm excited about the fight and I'm anxious. I'm tired of training."
Mitchell will war with Timur Ibragimov, who hails from Moscow, for heavyweight bragging rights.
Of Ibragimov Mitchell said, "I respect my opponent a lot, but come December 10, I'm pretty sure he won't respect me and I won't respect him either."
The fight will help solidify heavyweight boxing at time when the division seems to be lacking good opponents and matches.
"The state of heavyweight boxing right now is dead", said the legendary Pepe Correa, former trainer to Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Durán, and Lennox Lewis.
"However, if Mitchell does well Saturday night, this could put heavyweight boxing back on the map", Correa told us.
All fighters have a lot at stake: reputation, credibility, audience, a larger pay day, and and even larger fan base.
Said Mitchell, "I'm ready. I feel that it's my time."
See final press conference pics here.
--
In other area boxing related news.
Joseph Robert, founder of Fight For Children, has passed.
Robert founded the annual Fight Night charity boxing event in 1990. The annual event brings celebrity-like business, sports and government icons together for an evening to raise money for disadvantage children in the DC region.
Robert made his last appearance at November's Fight Night were he announced he would pledge $1 million of his own money to continue the organization’s work. (Our coverage "here).
--
More Fight News
We also learned that tickets for the February 11, 2011 Jimmy Lange boxing event at the Patriot Center has been discounted 25%, thru Christmas Eve on ticket amounts of $75, $125, $200, $300 and $500 tickets (offer does not apply to $35 and $50 tickets) at 25% off when buying in person at the Patriot Center Box Office or going online to Ticketmaster’s web site.
The February 11 event will feature three world title fights, headlined by Lange’s World Boxing Union (WBU) junior middleweight title defense and top local female boxer, Tori Nelson, fighting for the World International Boxing Association (WIBA) middleweight championship. An exciting co-main event for a world title will also be added to the lineup with an announcement forthcoming. The card will also feature rising local junior welterweight Todd “White Lightning” Wilson. The previously announced Zain “Tiger” Shah vs. Tony “No Better” Jeter bout has fallen out. All bouts are subject to change.
--
Fighter Weights For Capital Showdown, with undercard performers.
Amir Khan 139 vs. Lamont Peterson 140
Seth Mitchell 240 1/2 vs. Timor Ibragimov 221
Anthony Peterson 137 vs. Daniel Attah 136
Fernando Guerrero 162 vs. Robert Kliewer 161
Jamie Kavanaugh 135 vs. Ramsies Gil 135
Thomas Williams, Jr. 174 vs. Reynaldo Rodriguez 171
Dusty Harrison 144 vs. Terrell Davis 146
Terron Grant 134 vs. Deshawn Autry 134
Joshua Davis 134 vs. Chris Russell 134
(H/T to BATB).
More fighter info here.
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