Haiti’s Dierry Jean comes up short in world title bid vs Lamont Peterson

Previously undefeated Canadian light welterweight Dierry Jean put up a valiant effort in his first world title shot but succumbed to the greater experience of defending titlist Lamont Peterson moments ago at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C. as seen live on Showtime Championship Boxing. Both men started out cautiously in the opening stanza feeling one another out with their jabs. Peterson used a good uppercut in the early rounds but Jean countered well and landed some big right hands. Things really started to heat up in the third as both men looked to exchange. Peterson found an edge in the fifth and began to take the fight to Jean with a good body attack. The hometown fighter pressed the action and pressured the visiting Canadian well in the middle rounds. Jean found a second gear in the eighth and had success putting punches together in combination. Peterson used his experience to rally and he had a decided edge in the championship rounds where he looked busier and stronger than Jean, who showed a lot of heart to continue pressing. After twelve rounds were complete all three judges had the hometown Peterson ahead by tallies of 115-113, 116-112 and 118-111. Jean showed he belongs at the championship level and Peterson rebounded well from a knockout loss to Lucas Matthysse in his last outing.