ANTHONY PETERSON vs FERNANDO TREJO

Highly promising lightweight Anthony Peterson makes his first appearance since joining the Top Rank roster when he tops the bill on Thursday’s Versus show.

Peterson’s opponent, Fernando Trejo, is known to be a durable, competent fighter, and he looks a reasonably good test for the unbeaten prospect in this scheduled 12-rounder for the interim NABF title.

Trejo, 33, has only been stopped once in 47 fights, and that was when he suffered an arm injury against Bobby Pacquiao in his last fight. That was a fight that Trejo could have won had he not been injured — although Pacquiao was attacking strongly in the fourth there were six rounds to go and it was a wide-open fight.

Peterson, 23, is a more aggressive, harder-hitting fighter than his undefeated brother, the skilled junior welter Lamont Peterson. In his last fight, he was a bit disappointing against Jose Izquierdo although he eventually overpowered his opponent in the eighth. Peterson was far too sparing with his punches in the early rounds and it even looked as if he might be outhustled by the busy Cuban. Once Peterson really started to dig in and let the punches go, however, he soon had Izquierdo wilting.

If Peterson starts letting his hands go a bit earlier in this fight I think he can wear down and stop Trejo at some point in the middle to late rounds. Trejo has always been able to take punishment, and he can box and fight, but Peterson looks much too young, big, fast and strong for him. Trejo is moving up from the junior lightweight division and I think he might have trouble keeping Peterson off him as the fight moves into its second half.

This bout is a sort of new beginning for Peterson, with a new promoter, and I think he will be eager to make a strong impression. Perhaps I am underestimating Trejo’s chin, savvy and pride, but I am expecting a stoppage win for Peterson around about the eighth.