Boxingtalk sat down with lightweight Anthony Peterson moments after his victory over Jose Antonio Mesquita. Â It took Peterson a few rounds to hit his groove, but once he did, it was lights out for Mesquita in the eighth round. Â Anthony is ranked number 1 by the WBO, and he is not only knocking, but banging on the world title shot door [Editor's Note: Juan Diaz has the WBO title but will likely be stripped, leaving interim titlist Michael Katsidis as the WBO champion. Katsidis is poised to face lineal world champion Joel Casamayor next].
BT – AP you had a grabber, and a brawler in there tonight.  Talk about your performance.
Anthony Peterson – Yeah, he's from Cuba.  He reminds me of a Casamayor type of fighter.  That's a good thing, it can prepare me because I may be facing Casamayor in the future one day.  He was tough, he used his head, and he grabbed my arm and pulled it out of place a little bit.  I got used to his style by the fifth round and starting breaking him down with the jab and by going to the body.
BT – Once you got some space between the two of you, it seemed like that's when you began to take control of the fight.
AP – Definitely, I wanted to back him up and go to his body.  My coach (Barry Hunter) always told me to have separation and use the jab.  I wasn't successful in the beginning because I was smothering myself.  Once I listened to my corner and separated by using the jab, I got the job done.
BT – Were you frustrated at any point in the fight?
AP – No, no, no, no.  This is boxing, and I knew coming into this fight that he was going to be rough.  I just found out who my opponent was going to be on Sunday, so I had to prepare, and listen to my corner.
BT – How tricky is that when you have an opponent fall out on you like that, and you have to switch up opponents?
AP – Real tricky, but it's the name of the game, and that will happen.  I feel as though that I am going to be a legend in this sport one day so I am going to have to go through that.  I got an 8th round knockout, and I am good with that.
BT – You wanted to look impressive on Showtime, and you got three knockdowns ending with an eigth round knockout.  How do you feel about your performance?
AP – Well it was nice, but not good enough.  I thought I could have looked way better than that, but styles make fights and I broke him down, and got the knockout, so I am happy with that.
BT – Obviously you want a world title fight, so when do you see this happening?
AP – I leave that in the hands of God, and my manager and promoter.  Hopefully these champions will come and fight me.  Just give me time, and I will be the undisputed champion of the world.
BT – Do you see a world title shot for you in 2008?
AP – Definitely, hopefully by the end of the year.  Hopefully we can get these guys to fight me, and by the end of 2008 I will be the world champion at lightweight.
BT – Juan Diaz?
AP – I prefer Juan Diaz, I'll have an easier time with him.  He's one dimensional, and he comes forward.  Juan is the king of the crop, he's got all of the belts, so he's who I really want.
BT – Juan Diaz is a Pit Bull, he comes forward, but he has a relentless body attack, and he knows no reverse.  How do you see yourself matching up against him?
AP – Well first let me say that I am real proud of Juan Diaz.  What he is doing for the sport of boxing, graduating from college, and all, boxing needs that.  If and when I see him I want to shake his hand because I am real proud of him.  But when I get into that ring with him, Dear God, it's going to be pretty to watch.
BT – Do you have any closing thoughts for the Boxingtalkers and to your fans?
AP – Keep God first and anything can happen!
RINGSIDE COVERAGE OF SHOBOX, JAN. 4, 2008:
ShoBox – The Next Generation, promoted by Prize Fight Promotions, kicked off 2008 with a bang at The Hard Rock Cafe, in Biloxi, Mississippi. Brothers Anthony and Lamont Peterson both showed they are smoothly handling the transition from prospects to contenders.
Antony Peterson KO8 Jose Antonio Izquierdo...In Biloxi, Mississippi, lighweight Anthony Peterson (26-0 with 19 KOs) squared off against a gritty opponent in Jose Antonio Izquierdo (16-2 with 13 KOs). Izquierdo came out in the early rounds with the intention of taking Peterson out of his game. It was a rough, inside, grab-fest for the first couple of rounds, but once Peterson established some space, was able to dominate the action. Peterson had Izquierdo down in the sevemth, and twice in the eighth, ultimately getting the eighth round knockout.  It doesn't seem long now that Anthony Peterson will be ready for a world title shot.
Lamont Peterson W10 Antonio Mesquita... Junior welterweight Lamont Peterson (24-0 with 11 KOs) faced off against Antonio Mesquita (34-1 with 26 KOs). Lamont fought a very smart, fundamental fight, and was able to neutralize Mesquita's power. It was a strategic fight and credit Peterson coach, Barry Hunter for bringing in a winning game plan. Lamont, with the much faster hand speed was able take control of the fight, and cruise to a unanimous decision by official scores of 98-93, 99-90 and 100-89.
AA
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