Although he's spent only three years as a professional, 29-year-old Lamont Pearson might already be nearing the age when many boxers enter the twilight of their careers.
But the Capitol Heights native, who is both fleet of foot and hand, hasn't shown signs of slowing down. To the contrary, the junior lightweight is picking up speed, having fought four times in 1998 and five times in 1999.
Tonight at the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro, Pearson (13-0-1, seven knockouts) will fight for the sixth time this year against Nicaragua's Alfonso Rodriguez (13-6, six knockouts) in a battle for the United States Boxing Federation regional title in the main event of a nine-bout card.
"If Lamont wins, I think the next logical move would be for the NABF title, maybe on our next card, Nov. 18," said promoter Gene Molovinsky of Keystone Boxing. "If he wins there, I think maybe we're looking at a shot against a world-class opponent."
Billed as "In Yo Face At ShowPlace," the card also features Baltimore super middleweight Dana Rucker (10-2, nine KOs) in an eight-rounder against Mo Adams (15-4-1, nine) of New Carrollton.
Also on the card is local favorite Del "The Hatchett" Matchett (12-1-1, seven) in a 10-round junior welterweight fight with hard-hitting Colombia native Rosembar Palacios (17-8-3, 12).
Pearson fights frequently in the Baltimore area, where he is a local favorite. A mail carrier for the United States Postal Service, Pearson is just as busy outside of the ring.
"He has a regular eight-hour shift as a mailman, but since this is a vacation month, he's been working two daily hours of mandatory overtime," Molovinsky said.
"After walking all day long, he comes to the gym at around 6:30 and trains for two hours. He also runs daily to keep his weight down."
Pearson has reeled off nine straight victories, but Rodriguez represents a major step up in class, coming off two 10-round decision losses to Rocky Martinez (32-4) and highly touted KO artist Ben Tackie (21-1, 14) of Ghana. Rodriguez owns a fifth-round knockout of Washington, D.C.'s James Baker (11-1-1).
