Toney says that he's put himself through an "NFL-style" training process and he's actually incorporated a diet. If you have seen any of Toney's fights in the past 5 years you'll know that this is certainly something new. Toney says he was too out of shape when he faced Rahman 2 years ago, but he says he's ready now.
Rahman is standing behind his vicious right hand that downed Lennox Lewis. He says that Toney's days are behind him and that he knows he can beat Toney because he beat Toney.
The commentators for tonight are Chris Rose, John Sally, and Chris Byrd.
Rd 1: The fighters meet in the center. Rahman goes to work with his jab. They are feeling each other out. Toney starts to get his jab working. Only jabs thrown by both fighters in the first minute. Toney is using his trademark upper body movement. Rahman backs Toney against the ropes but Toney blocks the jabs. Rahman lands a straight to the body. Rahman lands another jab followed by a straight right. Toney looks to be taking his time and working on counter punches.
Spartan117: 10-9 Rahman
Uatu: 10-9 Rahman
Franchise: 10-9 Rahman
Rd 2: Toney comes forward first and tries out a combo. Rahman blocks it. Not much activity from either fighter. Rahman throws a haymaker but Toney ducks away. Rahman lands 2 jabs cleanly. Rahman lands a straight right. Toney's punches don't have much on them but it looks like he's still being patient. Rahman throws a shot to the body then upstairs. Toney lands a sharp right counter hook that lands flush. Rahman lands a left at the bell.
Spartan117: 10-9 Rahman
Uatu: 10-9 Toney
Franchise: 10-9 Toney
Rd 3: Toney meets in the center and moves the upper-body. Rahman lands a solid right hook and Toney stumbles. Now Rahman complains about a headbutt and the ref ignores him. Rahman and Toney now start throwing the bombs. Toney lands a straight right then a right hook set up by a nice jab. A cut has opened over Rahman's left eye. It looks like it was caused by a headbutt. Toney now turns up the intensity and lands two strong rights after jabs that stagger Rahman. Rahman shakes out the cobwebs and fights back. The bell stops the action.
Spartan117: 10-9 Toney
Uatu: 10-9 Toney
Franchise: 10-9 Toney
The Ref stops the fight between rounds because of the cut over his eye! Rahman tells the doctor that he can't see. Since the fight did not go past the 4th round it is a no contest.
After the official ruling is read it appears that James Toney is actually the winner since Rahman said that he could not see and there was not proof that it was caused by a headbutt, Rahman retired on his stool and James Toney wins by TKO.
The ref also says that the cut was not big enough for the fight to be called a no contest.
Toney says after the fight that he's the best heavyweight in the world period. He says he'll fight anyone at any time.
Rahman says that this fight was against him from the beginning. "This is the worst damn decision, period", he says. Rahman's manager states that this ruling will "undoubtedly be overturned". He also states that they will be filing an appeal immediately.
This gives us fight fans another boxing match surrounded by controversy.
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10 comments:
what a disappointment...
looks like they're giving it to toney after all
Yep, Spartan117 just changed it. Things were just starting to heat up and that was a confusing ending, but I think Toney would have come out on top eventually.
it's definitely not gonna help boxing's credibility. bullshit ending...
It's especially bad coming just a few weeks after the bewildering Lorenzo-Soto decision.
So Did Rock Not Want To Continue? Was He Lobbying For A No Contest?
Yes, he said he could not see because of the blood, and I think he figured that since it was caused by a headbutt he could get the NC.
Worse Cuts Have Happened But If He Says He Cant See Then What Can You Do But Ask A Doctor. Mma Would Have Kept Going
Hey, I attended this fight, and saw the usual Toney fight process beginning, as he did with Robinson, Jirov, Holyfield, and Booker. He picked apart each of those opponents, and I saw it happen with my own eyes. Note that against Booker, Toney injured his left harm early in the fight, yet went on to apply a thorough beating to Booker. In fact, the severe pounding caused Booker to drop to one knee in a middle round as he peered toward his corner for help. I can still see that woeful look on his face. With Rahman, Toney opened up strong in the third round, and that big right hand to the skull of Rahman rocked him on his heels. Rahman took three shots to the head in this round. The gash from the alleged head-butt appeared well above Rahman’s eyebrow. IMHO the combination of blows from Toney, not the head-butt alone, affected the eyesight of Rahman. As Toney said after the fight, “I made him quit.”
Hey, thanks for providing us with a first-hand account. I think this was more of a confusing outcome than an outrage, as on TV you could hear some of the in-corner audio and it did not appear that Rahman was giving up. It was definitely a bad look for him to be campaigning for a no contest though, and makes it appear that he felt like he was going to lose if the fight kept going.
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