By Jake Donovan

Lamont Peterson managed a disputed majority decision win over previously unbeaten Felix Diaz in their welterweight headliner Saturday afternoon in Fairfax, Virginia.

An even score of 114-114 was overruled by cards of 117-111 and 116-112 in favor of Peterson, scores that reeked of hometown favoritism for the former ex-champion fighting less than 45 minutes from his Washington D.C. backyard. 

The early rounds saw Peterson outlanding his undefeated challenger, who was stepping way up in competition. Still, Diaz came in armed with a strong corner and a deep amateur background. The squat southpaw claimed Olympic Gold for Dominican Republic in 2008, and showed flashes of superior infighting even if he wasn't winning the rounds.

That appeared to change in round four, when Diaz repeatedly managed to draw Peterson in and then counter him with combination punching. As the rounds wore on, Peterson not only struggled to adjust but also refused to sit on his corner stool in between rounds, with ringside whispers of possibly having injured his back at some point. 

On screen, the fight appeared to be slipping away from the local favorite as Diaz - trained by Joel Diaz (no relation) - grew in confidence. Veteran trainer and lifelong father figure Barry Hunter told Peterson he absolutely needed the final two rounds to win the fight.

Peterson didn't fight accordingly, but two of the three scorecards suggested that it hardly matters. Whereas the former super lightweight champion was arguably jobbed on the cards in his 12-round loss to Danny Garcia in April, he landed on the delivering end as ring announcer Ray Flores revealed the final scorecards.

Disputed or not, it goes in the books as a win for Peterson, whose record advances to 34-3-1 (17KOs.). The bout marked his second straight Premier Boxing Champions 

(PBC) on NBC headliner, with the Garcia clash having aired live in primetime; Saturday's edition aired during the late afternoon.

Diaz was valiant in defeat, possibly even hosed on the scorecards. Nevertheless, the Dominican southpaw is no longer undefeated as his record falls to 17-1 (8KOs). 

Opening the telecast, Terrel Williams emerged in a 9th round disqualification win over Prichard Colon in a battle of unbeaten welterweights. A full recap can be found HERE. Colon was taken to Fairfax Hospital after the fight, due to having vomited, fainted and complained of dizzying in his dressing room. 

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.

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