Unbeaten International Boxing Federation champion Errol Spence takes on fellow Lamont Peterson in New York on Saturday with designs on a unified welterweight world title.
"There are so many guys in the welterweight division, I want to clean them all out," said Spence, who seized the IBF belt in May when he stopped Britain's Kell Brook in the 11th round in Sheffield, England.
"If I keep beating the top guys, I'll be the last one standing. I'm going to dominate like I've been doing."
The 27-year-old southpaw took his record to 22-0 with 19 knockouts and fueled talk of meetings with the other welterweight world champs -- Australia's Jeff Horn and American Keith Thurman.
While it's not a unification bout, Spence is taking former two-division world champion Peterson seriously.
"I"m not going to wait around for unification fights," Spence said. "I want to fight three times this year and I'll take on the best opponent who steps into the ring.
"I know he's going to be difficult. He's a guy with fast feet who can come forward. He can basically do it all. I"m going to have to solve the puzzle."
Peterson brings a record of 35-3 with one drawn and 17 knockouts to the bout at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Since dropping a majority decision to Danny Garcia in 2015 Peterson has won two straight. And he says he'll be ready to take it to Spence, a fighter he once mentored as a sparring partner in Spence's amateur days.
"I'm training for the Lamont Peterson that I know. He's a hard worker, he's hungry and he has a big heart. People shouldn't look past this fight because I'm not at all. Peterson is a great fighter who's seasoned," Spence said.
"I expect a 12 round fight and that's what I train for. You have to have a smart coach to make adjustments during the fight and capitalize off your opponent's mistakes. I know he's going to be difficult. He's a guy with fast feet who can come forward. He can basically do it all. I'm going to have to solve the puzzle."
2023-10-20 08:36:07
