Neither Lamont, 19, nor Anthony, 18, ever thought they would see themselves, at this point in boxing, looking forward to the Olympic trials in February 2004. The site of the trials has not yet been determined.

"I looked past being on TV and going out of the country," Lamont said. "I just thought about fighting around D.C."

Lamont said boxing was something that he always liked, but he began his involvement in the sport when his brother-in-law and former boxer, Patrick Harris, took him to the gym at the age of 10 to begin training. Harris said he got Lamont involved in the sport after playing around with him when he was young and seeing the way he punched back. Knowing his own coach, Barry Hunter, was good with children, he decided to take Lamont to the gym to see what Hunter could teach him.

"I always knew Lamont had it in him," Harris said. He said the younger brother has surprised him in how far he has come with boxing, because he never thought Anthony was really interested in the sport.

Anthony said he never really paid any attention to boxing until he started training a month after his brother began. He said his interest in boxing increased when he learned about the opportunities to meet new people and travel to different places.

"I couldn’t see getting out of D.C.," Anthony said. "I thought the world was built in D.C."

Lamont boxes in a weight class of 141 pounds, or junior welterweight, while Anthony is in the lightweight class at 132 pounds.

"They have a gift from above," said Hunter, the brothers’ coach of nine years. "They just have a lot of natural ability that separates them from the rest."

Hunter said the Petersons are both humble, never boasting of their exploits in the ring. Hunter, who has been a father figure since their parents have not been involved in their boxing careers, described Lamont as quiet, kind and tenacious while he calls Anthony outgoing, loving and competitive.

"When I’m in the ring I think and use different strategies to give me an advantage over my opponents," said Lamont of what he feels is his biggest strength in boxing. He said his opponents will often come into the ring just throwing punches and looking for a fight without really thinking. Lamont said he believes his weakness in the sport is being too calm and relaxed in the ring.

"Lamont is very intelligent in the ring," Hunter said. "The sky is the limit as far as his skills are concerned. Anthony is, more so, a harder worker in the gym and is very powerful for his size."

Anthony said his jab and hook are his greatest strengths because they are the deadliest punches he has. "My weakness is people that run from me because it’s hard to catch them," he said.

Hunter said he does not see any weaknesses in the brothers that would affect them in the ring, because he has taught them to perform as seasoned professionals.

Boxing has not always been the only thing on the mind of the Petersons. There was a time when both brothers thought about quitting because they longed to be doing the other things kids their age were doing while they were training in the gym. Both said they are glad to be where they are now, but Anthony remembers thinking, "If all this doesn’t work out, I missed my whole childhood."

Lamont is currently ranked No. 1 in the country in his weight class and was named "outstanding boxer" in the U.S. Everlast Championship and U.S. Challenge tournaments after winning them both. These wins qualified him for the Olympic trials. Lamont said this was his biggest accomplishment so far.

"It opened a lot of doors and brought me one step closer to my goals," Lamont said. "I want to be the champion of my weight class. I want people to think of me when they think of boxing."

Anthony qualified for the Olympic trials in May after winning the National Golden Glove tournament in Las Vegas. His weight class ranking is currently No.3 in the country.

"I want to go until I’m undisputed," Anthony said. "I want to go to the top of my weight class and then when my body tells me it’s time to stop, that’s it."

Anthony said his goals in life are to just stay alive as long as he can and to make as much money as he can to invest later on. Lamont said he does not know what his plans for the future are yet after boxing. He will be going to the Dominican Republic in August as a representative of the United States in the Pan American Games.

"I think they’re going to go all the way with this if they keep doing what they’re doing," Harris said.

In a family with 12 children, Lamont and Anthony have always been close and are both happy to be participating in the Olympic trials together.

"It wouldn’t feel right without [Anthony]," Lamont said. "It would be like there was something missing."

The Petersons and their coach agree that they will be confident going into the trials, as they have already defeated in previous matches most of the opponents they will be facing in the trials. Lamont said it should not be any different than any other tournament.

"Their chances are very good. They are very accomplished boxers," Hunter said. "They have been around and I don’t think they’ll see anything they haven’t seen already. It’s been a 10-year walk for us and the Olympics will bring a close to a great amateur career."

The brothers will find out at the end of February if they make the Olympic team.

Copyright 2003, The Common Denominator