Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC Premier Boxing Champions returns to primetime with a fight card headlined by WBC and WBA junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia taking on IBF junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson. The fight will be fought at a catch weight of 143 pounds though, and is scheduled for 10 rounds of non-title action. It can be live streamed free by clicking this link.
Garcia had a rough 2014 despite two victories. His first win was called a robbery in some circles, as he struggled to time veteran Mauricio Herrera in what was supposed to be a showcase fight in Puerto Rico. He followed it up with a dominant win over Rod Salka in August, although fighting a middling lightweight at a catch weight above 140 pounds garnered Garcia little favor in the boxing community. In fact, Salka had been such a lightly-regarded opponent that the bout wasn't sanctioned as a title fight.
Although his popularity and visibility dipped after a resounding 2013, Garcia thinks the PBC will restore his luster. "I know that this second 'PBC' on NBC show is going to be even bigger and I just feel blessed to be a part of it and I can't wait to go out there and showcase my skills," Garcia said.
Peterson is excited for the spotlight as well. A win over Garcia could help erase the stigma of his ugly knockout loss to Lucas Matthysse in 2013.
"The stakes are high. This can definitely push me to the next level in this boxing game. I've been at the top for a while but there's a difference between being at the top and being an elite fighter. I think this will solidify me as an elite fighter."
Prediction: Danny Garcia def. Lamont Peterson by unanimous decision.
On the undercard of Garcia-Peterson, Brooklyn-born Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin will challenge Andy Lee for Lee's WBO middleweight title. Ironically, Lee won the belt by knocking out Matt Korobov, whom was scheduled to fight Quillin when Quillin had the belt. He vacated the title, and a $1.4 million payday, and Lee defeated Korobov to win the vacant title.
There were politics involved in Quillin's decision; his adviser Al Haymon is believed to have sunk the fight because Roc Nation Sports won a purse bid to promote it. Quillin hasn't been in the ring for almost a full year.
Prediction: Peter Quillin def. Andy Lee by TKO (Round 9)
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