Petersons to lead Martin Luther King Day Parade

Newly-crowned IBF/WBA junior welterweight title holder Lamont Peterson and his younger brother Anthony Peterson, a lightweight standout, will serve as Grand Marshalls of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 16.

Lamont (29-1-1, 15 knockouts), who is 27, dethroned Amir Khan last month by split-decision, and Anthony (31-1, 20 KOs), who is 26, scored a decision over Daniel Attah on the undercard at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center.

Growing up, the Peterson brothers fended for themselves in the streets of Southeast Washington, D.C. starting at the ages of 5 and 6, after their father was jailed on drug charges, and their mother was left to care for seven children.

They went from foster care to the streets and back. For money, they washed car windows or resorted to stealing from grocery stores, becoming pick pockets, swiping tips off of the tables at outdoor restaurants, or things such as stealing bicycles and selling them, that is, until meeting current manager and trainer Barry Hunter.

"Tonight was for the slums of America. Not only for South East D.C., but for all the slums in Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Cleveland, California, everywhere. Now they've got a hero," said Anthony Peterson hours after their victories on Dec. 10.

"This dude, my brother, Lamont, he overcame every obstacle that came his way. Homelessness. Foster care. On the verge of getting adopted. What else can you say? To see him come from all of that and to win a championship, I cried. So now, like I said, they have a hero. D.C., we're here."

Lamont Peterson was honored last month with the key to his hometown city of Washington, D.C., bestowed upon him by Mayor Vincent C. Gray at the John A. Wilson building in D.C., which houses Gray and his support staffs.

Photo courtesy of Barry Hunter

Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com