Rahman rules over Toney but gains only a draw in AC

By JE Grant

ATLANTIC CITY --- Hasim Rahman, 41-5-2 (33 KOs), Baltimore, 238, clearly out worked and out punched perennial boxing master James Toney, 69-4-3, 1 NC (43 KOs), Los Angeles, 237, only to see the bout end in a controversial 12-round draw allowing him to retain one version of the heavyweight title.

From the opening bell, Rahman peppered the slow and lumbering Toney whether in the middle of the ring or along the ropes – his supposed domain.

Toney was able to land his sharp, countering right hand to the head of Rahman as the bigger man pressed forward but he never slowed the bigger and stronger titlist.

When not landing his jab, Rahman was satisfied with pounding through any opening Toney provided. Toney rolled and leaned away from Rahman negating some of the power of the big man but “Lights Out’s” vaunted counters were of the one-shot-at-a-time variety.

In no aspect of the fight did Toney dominate or even demonstrate an edge. His customary combinations were not in evidence.

Even by Atlantic City standards the scoring was strange to say the least. Tom Kaczmarek and Nobuaki Uratani scored the bout 114-114, while John Stewart had it 117-111 for Rahman.

JEBoxing scored the bout 117-111 for Rahman. HBO’s Harold Lederman scored it 116-112 for Rahman.

Without question a review of the scoring is in order.

Toney entered the ring Saturday a full 80 pounds more than he did when he knocked out Michael Nunn in 1991 to capture his first world crown. The 237-pound version of Toney was also 37 years old and exceeded in every way physically measurable against a real hitter in Rahman – height, wingspan, age, even weight.

Having achieved legendary status by going on to add super-middleweight and cruiserweight belts to his collection, Toney’s roller coaster career seemed at a pinnacle when he outfoxed John Ruiz to seemingly win a version of the heavyweight title.

Toney used all the acumen garnered in the 74 bouts that preceded his jump into the heavyweight ranks to overwhelm Ruiz. Unfortunately he also used steroids according to the New York State Athletic Commission and in a flash his title was stripped.

After a suspension he returned against formerly hot prospect Dominick Guinn last October, scoring a lopsided decision and vaulting himself back into contention.

At least in the eyes of the WBC that is.

The WBC somehow viewed the then-number five-ranked Toney as the next “mandatory” challenger to Rahman. You will recall that Rahman ascended to the throne with the retirement of titlist Vitali Klitschko.

Strangely, only one month after Toney beat Guinn, Oleg Maskaev, ranked number two, easily conquered the number one-ranked Sinan Samil Sam in a WBC eliminator --- ostensibly for the right to become that organization’s mandatory challenger.

While it is easy to deride the WBC for rating either Sam or Maskaev anywhere in the top ten, it is equally easy to see that even the organization itself does not take its rankings seriously.

Nonetheless, most boxing fans undoubtedly saw Toney as a more viable threat to the Rahman (and yes we’re all aware of Maskaev’s thorough whipping of Rahman in 1999 – the years have been kinder to Rahman’s body).

In fact, it was Rahman, the titlist, who entered the ring as the underdog.

Many cannot forget his flop against John Ruiz, his fat man draw with David Tua, or that he dropped a knot head technical decision to old man Evander Holyfield.

Indeed, his six-fight win streak has not included a host of major leaguers. Only Monte Barrett was deserving of a top ten rating. Kali Meehan was perhaps a fringe player. The others were clearly also-rans.

What was important, however, was that Rahman progressively improved his fitness and seemed to recover some of the natural skills that were occasionally in evidence earlier in his career.

The Sonny Liston-like left jab and the overall body strength that continues to have no equal helped him to impose his will over the hapless and the elite alike even when he was not at his best, as was the case against Barrett.

That jab appeared to give him a clear edge in Atlantic City. In this instance a strong titlist did what he needed to do against a crafty veteran.

Unfortunately the dubious decision represents one more black eye for boxing and for a heavyweight division, already derided for its muddled state.

Hasim Rahman can, however, hold his head high. He thoroughly beat a grizzled ex-champion --- and he should move on to the other belt holders.

James Toney’s day has come and is gone. He can win some more fights in the division, but his days as a force in the division are over.