Boxing: Amir Khan has vowed to prove himself as "a warrior" by seeking redemption against Lamont Peterson after Saturday's controversial split-decision defeat. The Bolton boxer produced a sub-standard performance in Washington as he lost his WBA and IBF light-welterweight titles to local man Peterson at the weekend.
Attention has instead focused on a number of contentious issues, such as referee Joseph Cooper’s deduction of two points from the Briton and also question marks over the scoring of the fight.
Khan’s team have submitted official complaints to the relevant authorities but such action is likely to prove immaterial, with a March 31st rematch in Las Vegas thought to be in the pipeline.
Khan, whose team claim they were told unofficially he had got the decision only for Peterson’s hand to be raised, has already bounced back from defeat in his career when Breidis Prescott blew him away in less than a minute three years ago. And he has vowed to do the same after suffering his second professional loss.
“This is all a learning curve,” said the Englishman,. “That’s just the character I am. I’ll come back stronger. Even Lamont was very shocked that he got the decision. I knew after the 12th round we had won the fight.
“But no excuses. People who were watching and who know what the fight was all about will know that I’ll come back stronger. That’s why I want the rematch straight away, just to prove to everyone. I’m here, I’m ready and I want my two titles back.”
He added: “It’s about how you come back from these fights. I’m a warrior. I’m strong, I’m still young and I’ve got a lot left in me. This is what boxing is all about, it’s about how you come back.
“I gave him the opportunity and I think I should get the opportunity back. I can’t take anything away from Lamont because he was not the referee or the judges, he just did what he had to do and put on a good fight.
“We’ll just go back to the drawing board, sit down and see where we go from here. I do want a rematch. This is boxing for you. You get these bad decisions but it’s how you come back from them.”
Khan arguably overlooked Peterson in the build-up to Saturday’s fight, with headlines instead focusing on his ambition to move up to welterweight and pursue massive fights against the likes of Floyd Mayweather.
The 25-year-old admits those plans are on hold for the time being.
“My plans to move up to welterweight are on hold now. I want the Lamont fight at light-welterweight and want the rematch to prove to the world, let’s be fair and take this fight somewhere fair and see where we go from there.
“I’m staying at 140lbs (light-welterweight) for one more fight. I like putting big fights on and showing the world that I don’t like avoiding big fights. I think it shows the type of fighter I am.”