Peterson floated as next Pacquiao opponent

COUNT Lamont Peterson among Manny Pacquiao’s probable opponents in May or June.

The newly crowned International Boxing Federation/World Boxing Association junior welterweight champion has emerged as a serious Pacquiao foe following his split-decision triumph over former titlist Amir Khan on Dec. 10 in Las Vegas.

Khan trains alongside Pacquiao under new boxing Hall of Fame inductee Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

It was Roach who first broached the idea of a Pacquiao-Peterson showdown, taking into account Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s three-month jail sentence that starts on Jan. 6.

Before Peterson’s stunner over Khan and Mayweather’s conviction, the names being floated were Juan Manuel Marquez, who wants a fourth crack at Pacquiao; World Boxing Organization junior welterweight king Tim Bradley and World Boxing Association junior middleweight Miguel Cotto, who is seeking vengeance for the 12th-round stoppage handed him by the Filipino ring icon late in 2009.

According to Lem Satterfield of RingTV.com, Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz, who is in Las Vegas, said that Peterson is among the options he will mention to Top Rank chief Bob Arum for the Sarangani representative’s next fight.

Though Peterson fights in the 140-pound division, he is three inches taller than Pacquiao at 5-foot-9, has a seven-inch reach advantage and enters the ring at a heavier weight.

Against Khan, Peterson fought at 155 lb, while Pacquiao has never exceeded 149 lb at fight night.

The 29-year-old Peterson (30-1-1 with 15 knockouts), however, is deemed a lighter puncher compared with Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs). /Inquirer