Six months after being stripped of his 140-pound title for failing to make weight and losing to Danny Garcia in a catchweight bout, Lamont Peterson - 33-3-1, 17 KOs - will move up a weight class in hopes of greener pastures. He’s jumping right into the fire, opting to face undefeated 2008 Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz Jr. - 17-0, 8 KOs - in a PBC card on NBC.
CURRENT ODDS
Check our online boxing odds for the latest available bets. When it comes to money lines, I’d expect Peterson to be the favorite going into the match. The total on this 12-round bout will likely be set around 10.5 rounds. Check back here on fight night for prop bets, which are usually released on the day of the event. After the fight starts, live betting is also available who like to hedge their bets.
NEW HORIZONS FOR BOTH
Diaz, who recently teamed up with top trainer Joel Diaz, is taking a leap in competition in facing Peterson, who’s faced a large number of champions and contenders, including Amir Khan, Lucas Matthysse, Dierry Jean, Victor Ortiz and Timothy Bradley Jr. While Diaz has looked impressive since turning pro after the 2008 Beijing Games, his most notable wins have come against Emmanuel Lartey and Gabriel Bracero.
“I am very thankful for this opportunity, and I know that Lamont Peterson will be my toughest battle so far,” said Diaz. “I am confident that at the end of the fight, I will have my hand raised. No disrespect to Lamont, but he has had his opportunity. Now it is my time to show the world who Felix Diaz is. I can assure you that the fans will not be disappointed on October 17.
Peterson is just happy to fight again after a failed weight-cutting fiasco and a contentious majority decision loss to Danny Garcia.
“I’m very excited to be back in the ring, especially close to home in Virginia and fighting on NBC,” Peterson stated. “I’m happy just to be doing what I love to do. I’ve been in the gym, and I’ve stayed ready, so I’m prepared to give the fans the kind of show they deserve.
In the co-feature, super middleweight contender Andre Dirrell - 24-2, 16 KOs - will face Blake Caparello - 21-1-1, 6 KOs - in a 10-round fight. Dirrell has fought for world titles twice and failed on both occasions. Caparello recently fought for a light heavyweight world title but was floored in the second round by Sergey Kovalev.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
This all boils down to whether Diaz is ready to face a contender like Peterson. I don’t think he is yet, even though he’s looked great so far. The major problem for Diaz is that he’s too small for the division at just 5’5”. We saw this in a couple of close calls against weak opposition.
For Peterson to show that he can make it at welterweight, he’s going to have to handily beat Diaz. Luckily for betting purposes, it doesn’t matter how easily he wins. The safe play here to go with Peterson, but the real value might be on betting the under. If you’re feeling really lucky, make sure to check out some of our prop bets going into the bout.
HOW TO BET
Sign into BookMaker Sportsbook and get all the latest Lamont Peterson vs. Felix Diaz Jr. boxing odds, including moneylines, totals and prop bets. Saturday, October 17, 2015 at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia. The fight will headline an afternoon Premier Boxing Champions card on NBC starting 4 p.m. ET.
Make sure to check in during fight night and get the latest live betting updates. You can bet on Bookmaker Sportsbook on real-time odds during the bout, allowing you to hedge your bets or even make new ones as you watch on live television. And with multiple reliable payout options, collecting your earnings is always quick and easy.
