18.03.06 – By Michael Montero: I’m writing this article half way through the 11th round of the Rahman-Toney bout on HBO. I’m so that bored that I couldn’t even watch the rest of this garbage that’s being called a championship fight. To this point it appears that we’ll see Rahman win by UD, after another less-than-dominant performance from the Baltimore native……
Let me say this now – James Toney is horribly out of shape, with the power of a Light Heavyweight. He’s stayed alive in the Heavyweight division so far with his terrific defense, accurate counter-punching and solid chin (not to mention his weak list of opponents). There’s no denying that the guy has great technique – however he does not posses the size, power or stamina to beat any of the division’s elite. In Hasim Rahman he faced his first “real” Heavyweight and – surprise, surprise – he looked undersized and overpowered.
Let me also say this – Hasim Rahman is not the real deal, he fought the first half of this fight gun shy against a guy who has no real power. He’s only opened up in the second half of the contest when he realized his opponent couldn’t hurt him. Yes, to his credit, the Rock has fought a smart fight. He’s jabbed, grabbed, pushed, leaned, and elbowed his way through the match. But in my opinion, Rahman will get knocked out on his backside if he fights the likes of Lamon Brewster, Samuel Peter and Wladimir Klitschko. He’s got power so he always poses a threat, but he has a china chin and he knows it, and boy does he fight like it…
Wow… I just walked back into my living room to learn that the fight ended in a draw… I’m disgusted… I might just throw up the Chicken Marsala I had for dinner tonight… Nope – I managed to hold it down. Whew… that would have been a mess…
As I feared, this boring Rahman-Toney sparing session has done NOTHING to clear up the current fiasco in boxing’s “glamour division”. It’s official everyone – the heavyweights suck. We have Brewster and Chris Byrd defending their belts over the next few weeks – let’s hope that these fights bring us some action and a little clarity in the mess that is the heavyweight division.
As for Toney, hang ‘em up dude. You just got married and it appears you might have spent more time pounding hot dogs and shakes than you did in the gym. Retire with your money and start your life with your new family. As for Rahman, be careful whom you face. Defend your belt a couple times against light-punching heavyset fighters like Toney; the division is currently stocked with ‘em…
Sorry if I’m coming off negative everyone, it’s just that I’ve got a nasty taste in my mouth. It’s Rahman-Toney leftovers, and it’s nasty….