ESB: We spoke in 2015 and you mentioned that you would be open to fighting any titlist at junior welterweight including WBC/WBO Champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (30-0, 21 KOs). Is Crawford still someone on your radar?
Lamont Peterson:“Not until he moves up to welterweight. Honestly, I wanted to stay around at 140 lbs.At first, it was for the [Danny] García fight. Then it was like, Okay I can stay for Crawford. But my body’s just not allowing me to do that.  And honestly, my mental toughness and me as a person, you tell me to make 140 and I’m going to make 140.”
“But, if it’s taking away from my performance, then I don’t want to do it.  I’m too late in the game to be doing that.And the older you get, you start worrying about your health. It’s not cool to lose 30 or 40 pounds just for a fight. And I’m not gonna do that.”
“So, the minute [Crawford] moves up to 147 then he’s on the radar again. As long as he stays at 140, I’m not worried about him.”
ESB: Speaking of Crawford, there are rumors that Felix Díaz Jr. (19-1, 9 KOs) might be a viable opponent for the WBC/WBO Champ. Díaz Jr. is someone that you have history with, so how do you see that fight going down if it’s ever made?
Lamont Peterson:“I think Crawford wants the fight at this point and he has more experience at that level.”
“And, honestly, Crawford is a terrific fighter.  He should win the fight style-wise, though Díaz uses his height pretty well at about 5’5”. But Crawford uses his height well and he’s about 5’9” or 5’10”. So it’s a big difference.”
ESB: We’ve spoken about the caliber of fighters that are out there now, the Thurmans, Garcías, and yourself, and other fighters that are on the horizon between 140 and 147.  Can you compare the current crop of talent to the caliber of fighters at those same weight classes when you first turned pro in 2004?
Lamont Peterson:“It was definitely a lot of talent [then], but if I’m not mistaken more of the talent was at the lighter weights and at different weight classes. Right now, it’s the welterweights and jr. middleweights.”
“Talent is always there in the boxing game, if you go throughout the years, but it’s always switched between divisions.”
“When I first got into boxing it was the heavyweights. So, it just moves around. But, right now, I’m just happy to be in a weight class that’s pretty hot and hopefully we can get some of those big fights and entertain the boxing fans.”