By Jake Donovan
Lamont Peterson managed a disputed majority decision win over previously unbeaten Felix Diaz in their welterweight headliner Saturday afternoon in Fairfax, Virginia.
An even score of 114-114 was overruled by cards of 117-111 and 116-112 in favor of Peterson, scores that reeked of hometown favoritism for the former ex-champion fighting less than 45 minutes from his Washington D.C. backyard.
The early rounds saw Peterson outlanding his undefeated challenger, who was stepping way up in competition. Still, Diaz came in armed with a strong corner and a deep amateur background. The squat southpaw claimed Olympic Gold for Dominican Republic in 2008, and showed flashes of superior infighting even if he wasn't winning the rounds.
That appeared to change in round four, when Diaz repeatedly managed to draw Peterson in and then counter him with combination punching. As the rounds wore on, Peterson not only struggled to adjust but also refused to sit on his corner stool in between rounds, with ringside whispers of possibly having injured his back at some point.
(PBC) on NBC headliner, with the Garcia clash having aired live in primetime; Saturday's edition aired during the late afternoon.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.
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