Lamont Peterson is adamant he has overcome his devastating knockout loss to Argentine bruiser Lucas Matthysse.

The IBF light-welterweight world champion steps back into the ring this weekend when he goes up against the undefeated and big-hitting Dierry Jean at the DC Armory in Washington DC.

The bout will be Peterson's first following his crushing defeat last May when he was stopped inside three rounds by Matthysse - one which he insists he is over, despite the stunning nature of the loss.

"Getting over the loss ... that happened in one day," said Peterson.

"Who cares about the knockout? It's part of boxing. That's what happens. You pick yourself up and you move on. At this point, it's in the past. Who cares? As a fighter, you have to block that out and you keep moving.

"As far as me moving on, I'm a fighter. At the end of the day, I had to focus on January 25. I train hard, give it my all, and we go out there and we fight. It's always going to be the same with me. Who cares about what happened in the last fight?".

Due to the fact Peterson faced Matthysse at a catchweight 141 pounds, his IBF light-welterweight crown, which is up for grabs this weekend, was not on the line.

Some have called into question the fact Peterson has remained the IBF champion, though the Washington DC native appears unaffected and has called on his upcoming opponent, Jean, to back up his big talking in the ring.

"Who cares about what he thinks, what he says? At the end of the day I have to get in there and show him," said Peterson.

"So it's not going to make me feel no type of way. He can say what he wants. It's all his perception at this point. He has to go in there and show me.

"At the end of the day the belts mean nothing. It means a lot to you, but it means nothing to me. I just love to fight. I go, I bust my ass in the gym, I go and I fight. I give it my all in the ring.

"Who cares about who's number one, who's number two, who's pound for pound, who has this belt, who has that belt? I care less about that. So whether you look at me as a champion or not, it doesn't make a difference."

At 31, the opportunity to capture world title glory appears to have come just at the right time for the Haitian born Jean, who moved to Canada as a 10-year-old with his older brother.

Having blasted his way past 25 opponents, and scoring 17 knockouts, including an impressive stoppage in his last fight over Cleotis Pendarvis in the eliminator for a shot at Peterson's IBF belt, Jean is sure his time has come.

"I see a better fighter [when compared with Peterson]. I'm more vicious. I can hit harder than him, and I want it more so I give everything to earn that title," Jean said.