Danny Garcia to fight Lamont Peterson in non-title bout on April 11
WBA/WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) will fight IBF champion Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs) on April 11 at a catch-weight of 143 pounds with no titles on the line.
This is a non-title bout because Garcia didn’t want to have to struggle to make the normal 140lb weight limit for a light welterweight title fight.
In his last outing he also fought over 140, when he knocked out Rod Salka inside two rounds in a mismatch in August, at a catch-weight of 142 pounds, also a non-title bout.
Peterson scored a 10th-round knockout of Edgar Santana on the same card in August. Both were tune-up fights to set up a unification fight. That is not the case anymore.
“Yes, we're fighting at 143,” said Peterson. “I'm not sure why but it was brought to me at that weight so I agreed.”
Garcia says he is moving up to 147 pounds and he wants to ease into the division.
“I’m slowly making my way up to welterweight,” said Garcia.
“I feel a lot fresher and stronger. At the end of the day this is a fight the fans want to see no matter what weight.”
This may be true but now we have another situation where neither guy is defending his strap and regardless of what happens, both will remain champion. If Garcia doesn't intend to stay in the 140 division, then surely he should just give up his belts.
Also in May 2013, Peterson faced Lucas Matthysse at a catch-weight of 141 pounds and he did not put his IBF title on the line. So even though Peterson was stopped by Matthysse in the third round, he remained champion.
The venue for the fight is yet to be determined.