Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime
Saturday, January 25, 2014, Lamont Peterson (31-2-1, 16 KOs) takes on Dierry Jean (25-0, 17 KOs) at the DC Armory in our nation’s capital, Washington, DC.
Peterson will be defending his IBF title and stepping back into the ring for the first time since losing by stunning knockout to Lucas Matthysse back in May of 2013.
The undefeated Jean looks to notch a career defining victory in his first big fight, but it won’t be easy going into hostile territory.
Opening up Showtime’s Championship Boxing telecast will be tough-as-nails Philly fighter Gabriel Rosado and undefeated up-and-comer Jermell Charlo.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing’s Staff Predictions for Peterson vs. Jean and Rosado vs. Charlo.
Click here to view the staffs records up to this point.
Jermell Charlo vs. Gabriel Rosado
Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime
Gino Garica, Contributing Writer
Jermell Charlo vs. Gabriel Rosado is the bout I have my eye on. In my opinion this is an absolute make or break for Rosado’s future as a championship contender. To break this fight down simply, if Rosado can not change his strategy by fighting inside and targeting the body, Charlo will pick him apart all night long. My instinct tells me that Charlo is the favorite to win, however on this particular fight, I think heart raises the victor!
Prediction: Rosado
Brendan Montenegro, Sr. Correspondent
I like both fighters, but I give the upper edge to Gabriel Rosado. He has faced better competition than Jermell Charlo. While he may not have won a fight in 2013, he has gained many fans for his straight forward, “I’m not scared of anyone” style of fighting. Charlo called him out believing he has a chance of beating Rosado, but Rosado has really dedicated 2014 to winning a belt and will not let Charlo stop that.
Prediction: Rosado
Lenin Acevedo, Photographer
I gotta go for my man Gabriel Rosado. Jermell Charlo is a good fighter with ring skills, but I don’t think he’ll be able to handle Rosado’s persistence. Gabe’s been in the ring with monsters. Considering his experience, Charlo shouldn’t be that much of a threat. I believe Rosado will start this year off with a well deserved victory.
Prediction: Rosado
Jordan Echavez, Contributing Writer
I feel Gabriel Rosado’s level of competition in his last few fights is a couple of notches above Jermell Charlo’s. Although Rosado lost his last two most recent ones, he turned out to be a tougher challenge than his opponents thought. Plus coming back down to 154 after fighting solid 160 pounders would probably play in Rosado’s favor. I’m going with a late KO for Rosado. Hopefully he gets a fair shake to start off 2014.
Prediction: Rosado
Jose Sotomayor, Contributing Writer
This will be a very interesting fight. Jermell Charlo, one half of the Charlo brother boxing duo, looks to make a splash in the division with a victory over Gabriel Rosado. Many fans will agree that Rosado needs a victory in this fight to stay relevant. Rosado losing a close one will reduce him to title of gate keeper, but a victory will prove he is still a force. Unfortunately, he is facing a young, smart and hungry prospect in Charlo.
Prediction: Charlo
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Gabriel Rosado is an interesting case. He wasn’t able to win a fight in 2013, but his popularity didn’t suffer and he actually gained fans. Sometimes, heart and will win people over more than anything else. Rosado has suffered from cuts in the past and ultimately, that may be the x factor in this bout. Jermell Charlo is taking a legitimate step up in competition and this fight will go a long way in showing boxing fans whether or not he’s ready for the upper echelon of the division. If Rosado doesn’t have a problem with weight and more importantly does not cut, I think he notches a big win in this fight.
Prediction: Rosado
Lamont Peterson vs. Dierry Jean
Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime
Gino Garcia, Contributing Writer
Lamont Peterson vs. Dierry Jean is a must see event. Although there are concerns of Petersons mental wellness after his last performance, I see this a great match up. Peterson will have to keep the fight at a distance and avoid being drawn into the counter strait right of Jean. In the end, I see too many variables favoring Jean. The IBF belt should change hands on Saturday. Jean wins in nine rounds or less by TKO.
Prediction: Jean
Brendan Montenegro, Sr. Correspondent
This fight is definitely all Lamont Peterson. I believe this fight was setup to put Peterson to the test to see if he could be thrust into the spotlight. People still question his win against Kendall Holt then went on to being overmatched against Lucas Matthysse in his next bout. Dierry Jean is looking for an upset and he does have a punchers chance having won 17 of his 25 fights by way of knockout. But, his knockouts are against unknowns. Peterson will be tested, but will outbox Jean.
Prediction: Peterson
Lenin Acevedo, Photographer
Interesting fight. I’m excited to see Lamont Peterson begin this year with a win and climb his way into being a potential contender in his division. I’m pretty confident he’ll win this fight. Dierry Jean is a speedy boxer with decent head movement, very quick on the inside, but not having experience versus the elites puts him at a great disadvantage. I might just be going over my head, but I think Jean goes down in the 10th round.
Prediction: Peterson
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Lamont Peterson who still owns the IBF Belt at 140 pounds, makes no bones about it that he cares nothing about the belt that he still holds. He also feels disenfranchised with the business of boxing. Bottom line for him is he needs to win this fight, and do so impressively to keep being in the mix for big time fights. His loss to Lucas Matthysse piled on top of the controversy over his biggest win against Amir Khan (illegal testosterone usage) make this fight extremely important for his continuing career. Lamont Peterson needs to cause some havoc on January 25th. Dierry Jean is an undefeated Light Welterweight from the great white north by way of Haiti, the same path taken by Adonis Stevenson and Jean Pascal. If you look up and down Jean’s 25 wins, you wont find any notable names. What you will find is 17 knockouts, which means he has some power just like his fellow countryman Stevenson. This is only Jean’s second fight outside of Canada, and he’s fighting in Peterson’s hometown of Washington, DC. Doing just enough to win just won’t do. Khan did just that, and he was the big marquee name coming into a fight with Peterson. Just enough wasn’t enough to eek out a decision in that fight it won’t be enough in this one.
Prediction: Peterson
Jose Sotomayor, Contributing Writer
Coming of a loss to Lucas Matthysse, look for Lamont Peterson to dictate the pace. Peterson may look a little hesitant at first, but should pick it up as the fight goes on. This will not be an easy one for Peterson, Dierry Jean has won his last three fights by KO. Jean will press the action and will pressure Peterson as Matthysse did. Jean is a hard puncher and can’t be counted out.
Prediction: Peterson
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
I see this fight much like Lamont Peterson’s bout against Kendall Holt last year. In that matchup, Peterson was coming back after his suspension for PED’s tand many folks didn’t know how he would respond. The hometown crowd definitely helped that night as it took Peterson a few rounds to get acclimated. I think that Dierry Jean’s best chance to win this bout is to be busy and make Peterson feel uncomfortable from the opening stanza. Jean needs to make Peterson feel his power as well as handle the DC fanatics who will undoubtedly be cheering for the local fighter. I see Peterson doing enough, with the support of the nation’s capital’s fans pushing him to victory.
Prediction: Peterson
