Errol Spence Jr v Lamont Peterson: What's On The Line At The Barclays Centre?

2018 has a lot to live up to when it comes to Boxing.

The past 12 months were stellar in the fight game with massive bouts in all corners of the globe, and we get 2018 off with a bang this weekend as Errol Spence Jr returns to fight Lamont Peterson in New York.

January can often be a quiet month on the boxing calendar but not this year as we hit the ground running with an interesting fight between two big names, and there is plenty of reasons to tune in to this one.

What's On The Line?

The unbeaten Errol Spence Jr (22-0) has emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in the sport over the past couple of years, and he will be hoping that 2018 is the year he goes from a big name to a superstar.

The IBF Welterweight Champion ripped that title from Kell Brook at Bramall Lane back in May in stunning circumstances, and having been out of the ring since, he needs a massive performance at the Barclays Centre. So far, he has failed to capitalise on that famous win in the UK, and how he performs this weekend could have a major impact on his career.

A knock-out performance from "The Truth" this weekend will put him in pole position for a blockbuster fight against either Keith Thurman or Terence Crawford, and they are perhaps the two biggest fights available in the sport.

Conversely, Lamont Peterson (35-3-1) is looking to regain his position in the division having fallen short at the very highest level for the majority of his career. He won a version of the WBA Welterweight title in his last fight against the unheralded David Avanesyan, but he has been out of the ring since that success in February, and this feels like the last chance for him to once again become a worthy challenger at the pinnacle.

Spence will of course be looking for the win to hold on to his belt but more than that, he needs to make a statement.

Is The Fight On TV?

Yes!

The fight is a Showtime production in the US, and for fans in the UK it will be on Boxnation in the early hours of Sunday morning.

What Are The Fighters Saying?

As you would expect, both fighters have been in bullish mood this week ahead of the fight in the Big Apple.

Spence Jr is clearly eyeing up some massive fights this year, but first he has to deal with his experienced opponent this weekend, who he sees as the man in the way of his dreams.

I have to get through him to achieve my goals and that is what I plan on doing on Saturday night.

As for Peterson, he knows the importance of this bout and even though he has been round the block over the past decade, he knows his career at the highest level could well be on the line.

I have to look at this as really just another big fight. When you’re at the top, you try not to make too much of each fight. We know what’s at stake. I know that when I keep it simple, that’s when I perform best.

What Sort Of Fight Can We Expect?

An entertaining one.

We saw when Spence beat Kell Brook last year that the 2012 Olympian is a huge talent, on both the front and back foot, with 19 of his 22 wins to day coming by way of knock-out.

An excellent amateur pedigree, Spence has the skills to withstand the expected onslaught from Petersen, with the challenger having no choice but to attack if he is to claim the upset win. Petersen has only been stopped once during his career, by the big punching Lucas Matthysse, and he will look to walk down the heavily favoured World Champion.

Petersen has no hope of out-boxing Spence on the back foot so expect the Washington DC native to try and wear down his younger opponent with front foot pressure from the first bell.

It won't work.

Spence was able to break down Kell Brook in the latter rounds of their fight in Sheffield, and this fight is expected to go the same way. The man from New York has a stellar amateur pedigree which will stand him in good stead in the first half of the fight, and a late TKO looks the most likely outcome for what should be a watchable contest.