03.09.06 – By Mike Casile/ Philadelphia boxing Report – James “lights out” Toney played the role of the “bad guy” all month long, taking every opportunity to insult and belittle anyone who asked him a simple question. I believe in Karma, and maybe the 257lb heavyweight hopeful, Sam Peter, is a firm believer, too. I have to admit that James Toney made things at least interesting, in the not so glamorous, glamour division. Most of the writer’s at ringside in the Staples Center had Toney winning the fight..
I really have no idea what fight they were watching. Ring generalship, and clean effective punching, is what I was watching. If judges scored on having a good beard, and sneaking a few hard right hands, in between lying on the ropes, then Toney clearly won this fight. I think we as writers want ”the story” to win the fight. We want the guy who will talk the loudest, and stick his chest out, it makes good copy, and it is more entertaining.
James Toney was clearly the story in this lethargic slug fest, but Samuel Peter seemed to rewrite his own ending. The story early on was the brilliant jab of James Toney. He seemed to catch the bigger stronger Peter coming in at will. The story later in the fight, was the effective counter punching by Peter, who seemed slow and choppy, but then he would speed up some nice combinations and counter shots.
I thought that Peter would be too heavy to go 12, but he made even me believe that he was in shape to go the distance, and beat Toney up. Toney’s face didn’t show it, but his speech sounded impaired after the fight, more so than in recent interviews, which is always a good indicator that he took far too many power shots. Personally, I think this was Toney’s last chance at a real title shot. His expression after the fight, and his attempted run in the ring, at one of Peter’s team, said it all.
I am not a Toney hater, as he called me a few times. I want to see excitement brought back to my favorite division. Excitement is when someone talks and talks and talks, and then puts up. I feel that Toney seen a window of opportunity, to step up and try to take a title, from a weak division. I think he may have found out, that although the lights were out, there was somebody home. And his name is Sam Peter.
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