If the mandatory fight between junior welterweight titlist Lamont Peterson and No. 1 challenger Zab Judah takes place, both will be fighting for far less than expected.
Headbangers Boxing, run by Barry Hunter, Peterson’s manager and trainer, was the lone bidder at Tuesday’s IBF purse bid and won promotional rights to the bout for just $50,000, the minimum offer allowed.
That means Peterson, as the titleholder, is entitled to $37,500 (75 percent) and Judah, as the challenger, would receive just $12,500 (25 percent).
Peterson made $650,000 for his successful challenge against Amir Khan in December. Former three-time junior welterweight titlist Judah, also the former undisputed welterweight champion, has made millions in his career. For his previous fight, a ninth-round knockout of Vernon Paris in March in the title eliminator that earned him the mandatory shot against Peterson, Judah made $25,000.
For multiple reasons, it remains to be seen whether the Peterson-Judah fight will take place.
There is no television deal in place for the fight, and the major networks have not shown any interest. Also, Peterson could have trouble getting a license because of his positive drug test that forced the cancellation of his May 19 rematch with Khan.
Even if Peterson is licensed, he has emerged as a possible opponent for welterweight titleholder Timothy Bradley Jr. in an HBO main event Dec. 15. That fight would be a rematch of Bradley’s near-shutout decision victory in 2009, when Bradley was defending his junior welterweight title.
Peterson would make hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight Bradley, given the seven figures HBO would pay to televise the fight. So if Peterson lands the bout, he could give up his belt and take the fight with Bradley instead of fighting for a much smaller purse against Judah.
If Peterson-Judah does happen, Hunter told the IBF that it would be in November or December and take place in Peterson’s hometown of Washington, D.C., according to IBF championships chairman Lindsey Tucker.
“The fight must be done in 90 days, or by Jan. 2, 2013,” Tucker said.
Despite the slim purse, Judah, a promotional free agent like Peterson, said he would accept the bout.
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WRITTEN BY Dan Rafael | ESPN.com & FULL STORY HERE
