13.03.06 – By James Slater: There was a time when James Toney’s nickname was one of the most apt in the sport. Many top men fell at the feet of “Lights out”, none more spectacularly than “Prince” Charles Williams. This KO, along with what actually makes a knockout artist, is the subject of this article.
Toney’s fight with Williams took place in Las Vegas, only the third time James had defended a world title there, and he put on a world class demonstration of infighting. Another often neglected style of fighting, Toney is a master at it. The pace was a hard one but with Toney once again showing his adeptness at slipping and blocking punches, Williams was showing signs of weariness towards the later rounds. Ahead on points going in to the last round, “Lights Out” had an explosive finale up his sleeve which came via a perfectly delivered straight right hand that crashed into Williams’ chin and sent him down in absolutely spectacular fashion.
Many mouths were agape as the blow landed, and even more were hung open when Williams’ body bent and then toppled to the canvas. It was the kind of knockout that the highlight reel was invented for. This sudden termination of a fight is as clear today in the minds of those who saw it as it was when it occurred. Toney’s explosive KO ranks right up there with any memorable display of punching prowess in boxing history. Any fighter would have been proud of such handiwork. Which brings me to the second feature of this article. What makes a great KO puncher?
Acquiring the ability to punch hard and render an opponent unconscious is in fact something of a mystery. The great trainers will tell you this. Big muscles have nothing to do with it, nor do size and weight. For examples, see Thomas Hearns – awesome banger yet thin as a rake, and Primo Carnera – couldn’t break an egg despite being a colossal heavyweight. Some attribute the art to timing and leverage, others say it’s the knack of finding your opponent’s more vulnerable pressure points – for a fighter who was this type of boxer personified look no further than the legendary Archie Moore. Moore scored more KO’s than any other boxer in history, and he did it by assessing his opposition’s vulnerability’s. Whether it be a shot to the temple to finish the job, or a blow to the very point of the chin to end matters, Archie set out to find the most effective punch for each and every guy he fought. He was clearly quite successful doing things this way, with his brain dominating, as opposed to his brawn.
But as to whether or not the ability to punch truly effectively can ever be taught remains a debated issue. Most agree that you either have it or you do not. Clearly James Toney, on the night of July the 29th 1994, had it and this was the most vivid display of his talent as a puncher he had yet shown.
He had put the signature on his masterpiece with that class A KO and this has to rank as one of his very best wins. Williams was a very strong fighter and had been tipped beforehand to perhaps pull off the victory and take James’ super middleweight belt. Yet Toney had had too much for him in every department, winning nearly all the rounds. He was characteristically boastful afterwards and had the right to be so. He was now ranked very high in all the boxing magazine’s pound for pound ratings and he was being showered with all kinds of accolades and praise. Even now he was already casting an eye towards the heavyweight division and wasn’t afraid to say so. Most dismissed this as just that, talk.
But, as we now know, this wasn’t merely a big mouth at work. James is only days away from fighting for the heavyweight title. A KO punch would certainly come in very useful this Saturday, against Hasim Rahman. Because although Toney is more than capable of winning on points, there is nothing like a KO from a heavyweight contender when he wishes to be recognised as the best big man on the planet, as James does. As he has moved up the weight divisions over the years, however, he has scored less and less wins inside the distance. In fact, apart from his KO win over Evander Holyfield, Toney has yet to stop a respectable heavyweight. And Rahman is not a guy to fall easily. Since his KO loss at the hands of Lennox Lewis, in their second fight back in November 2001, “The Rock” has managed to remain upright in all his fights ( he was stopped by Holyfield, but only because of a massive swelling above his eye ).But he himself can punch with chilling effectiveness, the aforementioned Lewis can attest to that! It just may be that the defending champ will be the one to score a devastating KO, ending Toney’s career in the process.
But however one believes the fight will go on Saturday, at last we are all agreed that we have a heavyweight title fight that is both intriguing and an exciting prospect. I wasn’t thinking along these lines when the match was first announced, but both men seem to have a genuine desire and hunger for this one. Both have trained hard and, as a result, come March 18 th I think we will see a KO, one way or the other. Let’s just hope it will be half as spectacular as the one James Toney levelled Charles Williams with!
If this turns out to be the case, then we will definitely have one heavyweight seemingly capable of dominating the scene, for a while at least. And hopefully one who will see it as his job to restore order to his division.