Former WBA welterweight champion Lamont Peterson (35-5-1) was sent to retirement by the Russian Sergey Lipinets (15-1-0). Unfortunately for the American, the fight didn’t go as planned and he lost via TKO in the 10th round of the bout in MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill.
“Havoc” and the European faced each other in Saturday’s PBC main event and after the bout, the 35-year-old Peterson announced his retirement from boxing following a second straight stoppage loss.
Peterson looked great in the early rounds, controlling the tempo and landing big shots to the body of Lipinets, but the 30-year-old Russian hung in there and started to break down his opponent with good counter punches and solid right hands.
In the 8th round the American was caught with some nasty hooks to the head and it was obvious that he’s hurt pretty bad. Still, he managed to run around in the final second as the bell saved him from the marching Lipinets.
Then in the final seconds of the 10th round Lipinets caught the American with great shots to the head, but this time Peterson didn’t have the stamina and the power to shake it off and he fell on the canvas just a second before the towel was thrown.
Here’s what the former two-division titleholder had to say after the fight:
“It’s been a long career, but today is the day. I’m thankful for the support throughout my career,” Peterson said in the ring. “I love y’all. I’m sure it’s time for me to hang it up. I appreciate y’all, thanks a bunch. I couldn’t go out in a better way; at home, main event. But this is gonna be the last time you see me in the ring. Thanks for everything.”
Lipinets said he feels good at the weight now, and that he believes this fight showed he’s a real contender.
“I feel great at 147 pounds. I feel strong,” Lipinets said through a translator. “Just now I fought a guy who is not an easy guy to fight. Lamont Peterson is an excellent fighter. Fighting guys like that, I find out where I fit at 147. Lamont is a great, excellent fighter, unbelievable skills. That shows me where my holes are and what I can do to cover them up.”
