If 2017 has shown anything, it is that the United States boxing scene now starts and ends with the Barclays Center.
According to ESPN, IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. is set to defend his title against former world champion Lamont Peterson at the Barclays Center on January 20, a little more than two months after the venue hosted the WBC heavyweight title fight between Deontay Wilder and Bermane Stiverne.
It would be the seventh boxing card to take place at the Barclays Center in just 12 months. The venue also hosted one of the press conferences for the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor global press tour in July.
Spence won the title earlier this year when he defeated now-former champion Kell Brook. Spence told the media that he intended to make his first title defense against Peterson, but the venue was still being decided. Spence is 22-0 as a boxer with 19 of those wins coming via knockout.
Peterson was the WBA "regular" welterweight champion until a little more than a month ago when he vacated the title. No official explanation for the vacancy was made except that Peterson wanted to give other fighters a chance to fight for the WBA title. When asked if the title vacancy was done in order to challenge for the IBF belt, Spence said at the time he wasn't sure because he had not talked to Peterson about the matter.
The fight is expected to headline the January Barclays Center card and according to the report, Showtime will televise the fight.
