Toney vs. Peter: Something old and something new

By JE Grant

When the grizzled veteran James “Lights Out” Toney comes face-to-face with the brutal punching Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter September 2nd, he will, for the first time, meet a heavyweight fighter who always delivers blows with a gruesome intent.

Sure, Toney stopped an ancient Evander Holyfield. He also decisioned a light-hitting Rydell Booker. No one will forget his near-win over John Ruiz in which he out-boxed the then-titleholder only to be stripped of the win for cheating by way of steroids. He also won a point victory over hot-and-cold (mostly cold lately) Dominick Guinn. More recently of course he was the recipient of a gift draw after obviously falling behind then-titlist Hasim Rahman.

The one thing all of the heavyweight opponents that he actually defeated have in common is that none of them were legitimately ranked top 10 fighters. That’s correct, the illusion Toney created with his victory over the depleted Holyfield has for whatever reason stuck.

Even though a state commission verified the fact that he illegally used steroids before his fight with Ruiz, many still believe he would’ve won anyway. (This is a dubious claim in light of his abysmal performance against Rahman).

What allows the myth of Toney’s greatness at heavyweight to persist? His mouth primarily. Toney’s endless stream of invective --- while often meaningless drivel --- has some enamored with the entertainment quality of Toney’s presentation.

Couple that with his prior – and true – greatness in various weight classes and you have a highly ranked “contender.”

Toney’s record is littered with victories over talented foes: Vassily Jirov, Charles Williams, Doug DeWitt, Michael Nunn, Mike McCallum (twice), Iran Barkley etc…

Even in his losses to Montell Griffin (twice) and Drake Thadzi he wasn’t dominated.

Only his loss to Roy Jones Jr. could be described as lopsided.

Not bad for a 77 fight career.

The only problem with the list above, however, is that none of those top-level fighters were heavyweights (okay we know that Jones went on to experience one win in the division).

The key for Toney against Peter is to make that stream of talk and the vestiges of boxing ability that remain in his 38 year-old body work for him one more time. His 69-4-3, 1 NC (43 KOs) record indicates deep experience. It could also be indicative of a fighter on the end of the flickering flame.

Peter will almost surely test that body in a way that Toney has yet to endure.

The thickly muscled Nigerian is clearly intent on doing harm with every punch. Certainly it is the case that he does not possess the richly practiced artistry that Toney has achieved at key points of his career.

At 26-1 (22 KOs), the 25 year-old also does not have years of pounding on his 250 pound body.

Indeed it is normally Peter who does all the pounding. Except in his loss to Wladimir Klitschko, even in his decision wins Peter chased and chopped at opponents who were often afraid to engage his power.

One would think his clear loss to Klitschko would be devastating. Instead, it reinforced the fact that Peter could rap the top-level heavyweights and have effects. Klitschko tumbled to the canvas three times (it is true that a review of the tapes puts into question a couple of those knockdowns). Whatever the case, his heavy hands can do damage to the best in the division.

It also provided an opportunity to show what would happen when Peter was hurt. In the final round of the Klitschko match he was tired and stung but refused to go down. He also kept trying to win.

Until the Klitschko fight, Peter’s wins over the likes of Charles Shufford, Jeremy Williams, and Taurus Sykes led only to the conclusion that he was a top prospect, not a proven world-title contender.

His two wins since the Klitschko bout, over tough journeyman Robert Hawkins and the 7’1” Julius Long, did not add substantially to his resume, but showed an ability to come back from a tough loss.

The one primary difference in Peter’s ledger versus that of Toney’s is that all of his fights have been in the heavyweight class --- the very heavyweight class. Peter has obvious power and overall strength. He can also go the distance and bang hard in the later rounds.

On September 2nd it will likely be Peter’s combination of youth and power that will be served. Toney has proven clever against heavyweights to date that have not attacked with abandon and for whatever reason have chosen to attempt to out-slick the slickest of wily veterans.

Peter will not make that mistake – in fact he likely is not possessed with enough slick moves to attempt it. He will forge ahead and punch hard and often through the leaning, weaving and covering Toney. At times Peter will look silly as he misses wildly or is countered with three punch combinations. At other times, Peter will look as though he is crunching an ant as Toney slumps against the ropes in a shell.

James Toney will never go easily and he will have his moments in this fight. Look for him to gain position early and out-speed the lumbering Peter at ring center. As the fight progresses, however, his legs will falter and the strength of Peter will begin to take over.

Look for Toney attempt a rope-a-dope methodology only to see himself trapped by his own cleverness. As Peter wails away, Toney will melt in the middle rounds.

Toney, for the first time in his illustrious career, will be stopped by the young powerhouse as the referee steps in to save him.

PREDICTION: Samuel Peter by 7th round stoppage.