By Jake Donovan

Lamont Peterson and Felix Diaz are set for their 12-round crossroads fight Saturday afternoon in Fairfax, Virginia. The bout airs live in the latest installment of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC. 

Despite there not being a title at stake, the two main event fighters were eager to take the fight the moment the opportunity was presented.

Peterson (33-3-1, 17KOs) is coming off of a competitive - and many will argue a disputed - loss to Danny Garcia in their non-title fight this past April. The catchweight bout cost Peterson his super lightweight title for failure to defend, but felt the risk was worth the reward even in defeat. 

It was a strange title reign for the D.C. native - who fights less than 45 minutes from his hometown in Saturday's clash - beginning with the bizarre circumstances surrounding his upset 12-round win over Amir Khan in Dec. '11. Peterson was awarded a split decision in his hometown, a verdict mired in controversy both during and after their unified title fight. 

His reign was threatened by the results of random pre-fight drug testing that ultimately scheduled his planned rematch with Khan and produced a lengthy suspension. Despite the outcome and the admittance of using synthetic testosterone prior to his first scheduled fight with Khan, Peterson was permitted to retain his IBF 140 lb. title. 

Three successful defenses came of his reign, yet with a knockout loss to Lucas Matthysse sandwiched in between. Their May '13 clash took place at a maximum catchweight of 141 lbs., making it a non-title fight. Similar terms surrounded his showdown with Garcia, as the two fought at a 143 lb. catchweight despite both owning separate super lightweight titles.

Nevertheless, it's on to the next chapter of Peterson's career, as he eyes a run in the welterweight division.

Standing in his way is a supremely gifted boxer who has managed to fly way under the radar thus far. 

Diaz (17-0, 8KOs) won a Gold medal for the Dominican Republic during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but has struggled to get his pro career untracked. That dynamic has slowly begun to change, fighting on Showtime, Fox Sports 1 and NBC Sports Network in his past three contests.

His most recent bout looks even better in retrospect, having scored a one-sided 10-round win over Brooklyn's Gabriel 'Tito' Bracero on the Garcia-Peterson undercard at Barclays Center in April. Diaz - who now lives in the Bronx - scored two knockdowns on the night in taking a wide decision victory. Bracero went on to score one of the year's most stunning results, a one-punch 41-second knockout of Danny O'Connor just one week ago in Lowell, Mass. 

Diaz now believes it is his time to shine, stepping up in class for his first appearance on free-to-air NBC. 

Read on to see how the staff at BoxingScene.com believes the welterweight(ish) action will go down. 

BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS: LAMONT PETERSON vs. FELIX DIAZ

Ryan Burton (Peterson UD): Diaz has a great amateur background but this is a big step up in the professional loss. I expect Peterson to be highly motivated coming off a narrow loss to Danny Garcia. A late stoppage isn't out of the question. 

Stephen "Breadman" Edwards (Peterson late TKO): Former champ gets the win over the unbeaten fighter.

Michael Gibbons (Peterson UD): Diaz has the skill but he will not be able to withstand the pressure of a bigger more seasoned guy in Lamont Peterson.

Cliff Rold (Diaz Dec.): Diaz has some pedigree and Peterson might be walking into a hungry young fighter at the wrong time. Peterson's penchant for cold starts will hurt him though a late surge is always possible.

Victor Salazar (Peterson late TKO): Peterson will be too experienced and get the stoppage late in the fight

Reynaldo Sanchez (Peterson UD): Felix is a great warrior, but he will be in a hard fight with Lamont… the skills and Lamont's speed is poison for Diaz. 

Alexey Sukachev (Diaz MD): Peterson is always an enigma, who can shine one night to fall on his knees the next day. Diaz is also enigmatic but Olympic champion cannot be a pushover, and I tend to think Diaz is capable of a minor upset and it'll shoot him to the elite of light welterweight division.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox