Lamont Peterson vs Amir Khan “ready to die”

Lamont Peterson has declared himself “ready to die” in the ring to keep his belts when he meets Britain’s Amir Khan in a Las Vegas title rematch on May 19. The American, who took Khan’s WBA super-lightweight and IBF light-welterweight belts in a controversial split points decision in Washington last December, told a televised news conference on Tuesday that he was training already. Peterson said he accepted the rematch because the fans wanted it, and not because of pressure from Khan’s people or any feeling that he had to prove himself. “It seems like Team Khan still have problems over what happened in DC, I can only tell them that nothing shady happened in DC but I’m pretty sure they won’t take my word on it,” added the 27-year-old. Khan’s camp criticised referee Joseph Cooper in the first fight for docking their man two points for pushing and also questioned the presence of a ‘mystery man’ in a hat seen on television talking to a ringside judge.