Al Bello - Getty Images
The WBA has ordered a rematch between Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The WBA, one of the two sanctioning bodies with belts on the line in the controversial Amir Khan vs Lamont Peterson on December 10, has officially ordered an immediate rematch as expected, reports Lem Satterfield of The RING.
Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who promotes Khan, is hoping that the IBF will follow suit when they meet about the matter on January 18.
"The WBA and the IBF are two different sanctioning organizations," said Schaefer. "But I hope that the IBF is coming to realize that the proper thing and the right thing to do is to order an immediate rematch. But that's not going to be my decision, that's going to be the IBF's decision."
Schaefer also says he's hoping to sit down with Team Peterson "in a respectful manner" (he uses this phrase three times over a few sentences) and get a deal for a rematch done, but does not say that the previously-reported $1 million offer for a rematch still stands. (What a surprise.)
[ Related: Team Peterson Official Statement ]
Khan (26-2, 18 KO) and Peterson (30-1-1, 15 KO) probably should fight a rematch. It's not because of the "Mystery Man," and not because poor Amir Khan was victim to a referee who enforced rules (yes, rules, real rules), and not because he was "robbed."
They should rematch simply because it was a really good fight and was extremely close, and it's a lucrative bout for both of them that most likely, they cannot equal elsewhere. When you take away all the whining, all the begging, all the crying, and all the bullshit about who did what, it was just a really good fight that deserves a rematch.
As for the WBA ordering the rematch, it's...well, look, like I said, I like the idea of a rematch fine. But the WBA let Amir Khan avoid Marcos Maidana, who had been in line for a rematch for a year, because Khan didn't want to fight him again. So it's typical favoritism, really. What are you gonna do?
The WBA ordering this fight does not mean it will happen. Peterson can simply give up their belt and keep the IBF title if the IBF does not order a rematch on January 18, and really he can choose to get rid of both belts if he really doesn't feel like he should fight Khan again, or if he just doesn't want to (which some would call a duck).
0 recs | 21 comments
I think this is a disgrace. WBA should not be forcing this rematch. Peterson shouldn’t be forced to give up any belts if he doesn’t want this fight. But such is life. But if it happens, I hope he hurts Khan, and puts his whining arse away for good. And make no mistake, Khan will be finished as a name if he loses to Peterson again.
APG1 - January 13, 2012
i hope so buddy
Bald-Eagle - January 13, 2012 via mobile
On the other hand, I think there’s a very good argument to be formed that the WBA and other sanctioning bodies could use their power to force good fights like this one more often. The process of getting this to happen has been shit, but it’s not like the resulting fight is some horrible piece of crap.
The problem is, as always that they pick and choose. Again, Maidana tried to get them to force a rematch with Khan for months. He had earned it. He won their regular belt. But they let Khan skirt by as “super champ” without dealing with Maidana again.
Scott Christ - January 13, 2012
Agreed
But in the end, APG1 has a point.
The facts however are as you said. the commissions are so many and so consistent witheir their rulings, I abide by very little if anything about them as a group.
Not their titles, not their rankings and thus not their rulings
pakinpower - January 13, 2012
It’s a good point Scott, but what you’re talking about here isn’t quite relating to what is happening to Peterson. Generally, maybe it could be a good idea for them to force good matches, but in this particular case, it is wrong what the WBA are doing.
APG1 - January 13, 2012
If Peterson vacates the belt will they make Maidana the Super Champ or have Khan fight some bum for the title, like Morales did? I’m sure Maidana would come back to 140 if he had to defend a belt.
d.k - January 13, 2012
Maidana is moving up to 147. He’s going where there’s money.
Scott Christ - January 13, 2012
This is crap.
cylee1180 - January 13, 2012
“When you take away all the whining, all the begging, all the crying, and all the bullshit about who did what” (Don’t know how to make those boxes)
I can’t take that away. This is just another case of the big guy having more pull than the little guy. The little guy wasn’t suppose to win this fight but he does in the ring where two men were face to face on an even playing field. So the big guy fights him in a place he couldn’t win where leverage is the whole key to winning the game.
tacklerford - January 13, 2012
He’s Khan-sumed by the loss!
cylee1180 - January 13, 2012
This is Khan-ny Chung reporting!
cylee1180 - January 13, 2012
if it was the other way around, i bet there would be no immediate rematch ordered.
Vicmatic1 - January 13, 2012
He’d be “chasing Floyd” and the big dogs at 147. Lamont was his “last fight at 140”. A warm up to bigger things… a borderline “showcase” fight in his own hometown to embarrass him and raise his own stock.
cylee1180 - January 13, 2012
Hes still chasing Floyd, hes said as much in every single interview since the loss, fitting it in amongst all the crybaby stuff.
He said he wants the rematch, then Mayweather. I dont think its fair on Peterson, who won the fight fairly convincingly with or without the points taken IMO.
Shitali Klitschko - January 13, 2012 via mobile
If Khan had nipped this thing by a point on two cards, as I said before, they wouldn’t go anywhere near Peterson. They didn’t go near Maidana, either, and the WBA fully supported that.
The only reason I think the rematch is valid is because I think it’s a good fight again. Otherwise, yes, it’s your typical boxing crockpot of shit.
Scott Christ - January 13, 2012
I wish this rematch was Khan-senual.
cylee1180 - January 13, 2012
This is as bad as Khan-tucky fried chicken!
cylee1180 - January 13, 2012
What is he gonna do after two Khan-secutive losses??
cylee1180 - January 13, 2012
bitch whine complain some more i guess
Bald-Eagle - January 13, 2012 via mobile
the best rematch money and influence can buy.
a smart and cynical move by schaefer; they just transferred some of the money from the million dollars they offered peterson and are funneling it into wba coffers i’d reckon…
now, peterson is still the champ though, right? so if it went to purse bid he would be entitled to a larger share of the purse?
jake_ash - January 13, 2012
He sounds like Khan-ye West: “Peterson is the best jr. welterweight in the world, but I’d like to thank Joe Cooper for the WORST two point deductions of all time…”
cylee1180 - January 13, 2012
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