Peterson welcomes second chance to fight for title

Boxing, like life, sometimes offers second chances to those who let opportunity slip through their grasp.

Lamont Peterson squandered a chance to become a world champion two years ago. Tonight, he can put himself in position to again fight for a world title if he can beat Victor Cayo in their 12-round IBF junior welterweight eliminator at the Cosmopolitan's Chelsea Ballroom.

The winner of the nationally televised fight on ESPN2 would be the mandatory challenger to reigning champ Amir Khan, with a likely December date to fight for Khan's belt. Khan won the IBF title Saturday by knocking out Zab Judah at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

"It means a whole lot," Peterson, 27, said of tonight's opportunity. "If I win, it puts me a big step closer to fighting for a world title."

And if he loses?

"It would be drastic," he said. "But I'm not even thinking about that. I intend to win."

Peterson (28-1-1, 14 knockouts) last fought Dec. 11 on the undercard of the Khan-Marcos Maidana WBA junior welterweight title fight at Mandalay Bay, where he battled Victor Ortiz to a 10-round majority draw. Had he not been knocked down twice in the third round, Peterson probably would have won the fight, as judge Robert Hoyle scored it 95-93 for Peterson, and Patricia Morse-Jarman and Dave Moretti each had it 94-94.

Ortiz, who went on to beat Andre Berto in April and capture the WBC welterweight title, now has a big-money fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Sept. 17 at the MGM Grand Garden.

Peterson and Cayo were supposed to meet April 29 at the Cosmopolitan. But Cayo hurt his right shoulder while training, and the fight was called off.

"It was just as well because I wasn't 100 percent, either," Peterson said. "I had some injury issues I was dealing with. Nothing serious, just sore hands and a sore elbow. But the extra time helped."

Peterson is still waiting for his big pay-per-view opportunity. Tonight's fight will pay him $12,000; the 26-year-old Cayo (26-1, 18 KOs) will make $6,000.

"I realized a long time ago that it wasn't going to be easy," Peterson said. "I'm used to traveling the long, hard road."

That road could have been paved with gold by now had he not started so slowly in his one title shot, against WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley in 2009. Peterson fell behind early, got reckless in trying to catch up and was on the wrong end of a 12-round unanimous decision.

Had Peterson won the title, perhaps he would have had the chance to meet Khan sooner and made big money. Instead, he accepted his $220,000 payday, the largest of his pro career, and started his climb back up the ladder.

"That's why this fight's so big for me," Peterson said of his long-awaited bout with Cayo. "I had my chance to win the title, and I let it get away from me. Now I get a second chance, and I have to take advantage of it."

■ NOTES -- The undercard is highlighted by what should be a competitive, 10-round light heavyweight bout between veteran Edison Miranda (34-5, 29 KOs) and Cuban Yordanis Despaige (8-1, four KOs). ... The first bell is scheduled for 5 p.m., with the telecast at 6.