Peter gains controversial nod over Toney, title shot awaits
By JE Grant
LOS ANGELES – Power-punching heavyweight Samuel Peter scored a highly controversial 12-round split decision over veteran James Toney in a title eliminator Saturday night for the right to face newly crowned titlist Oleg Maskaev.
Toney, 69-5-3, 1 NC (43 KOs), Los Angeles, 233, appeared to start fast using sharp jabs and counters in ring center against the strong 25 year-old Peter, 27-1 (22 KOs), Nigeria, 257.
After appearing to sweep the first two rounds, Toney, 38, felt the right hand of the “Nigerian Nightmare” in round three and reacted with characteristic disdain for his opponent’s power despite a noticeable wobble. Peter measured his attack landing body punches and forcing Toney back with jabs.
Most of the middle rounds belonged to Toney who seemed intent on keeping his younger foe off-balance with counter right hands and snapping up-and-down left hooks. While the punches did not seem to hurt or slow Peter, the number of clean blows mounted.
Despite a point deduction from Peter in round nine for double-punching, the big man came on strong at the end of rounds throughout the contest often stopping the boxing master Toney in his tracks.
The final two rounds proved difficult to score as both men desperately struggled for the win. Hard shots from Peter versus multiple, though less hurting, punches from Toney offered judges alternatives in scoring.
Scoring of the bout was 116-111 and 116-111 Peter; and 115-112 Toney. JEBoxing scored the bout 116-111 Toney.
Toney was incredulous following the bout.
“I made him miss a lot and I countered,” Toney protested. "The whole world saw I won the fight."
It was equally clear that the tough guy, never-give-an-inch competitor was not in any hurry to mend his relationship with the winner.
“He’ll have to kill me to get respect, ” said Toney.
Peter was clearly overcome by the moment and gave simple praise for the defeated multi-weight class champion.
“He’s a strong guy,” said Peter of Toney. Indeed Peter aknowledged that Toney took his big punches and kept fighting.
With the win, Peter gains a mandatory shot at Oleg Maskaev’s new title.
LOS ANGELES – Power-punching heavyweight Samuel Peter scored a highly controversial 12-round split decision over veteran James Toney in a title eliminator Saturday night for the right to face newly crowned titlist Oleg Maskaev.
Toney, 69-5-3, 1 NC (43 KOs), Los Angeles, 233, appeared to start fast using sharp jabs and counters in ring center against the strong 25 year-old Peter, 27-1 (22 KOs), Nigeria, 257.
After appearing to sweep the first two rounds, Toney, 38, felt the right hand of the “Nigerian Nightmare” in round three and reacted with characteristic disdain for his opponent’s power despite a noticeable wobble. Peter measured his attack landing body punches and forcing Toney back with jabs.
Most of the middle rounds belonged to Toney who seemed intent on keeping his younger foe off-balance with counter right hands and snapping up-and-down left hooks. While the punches did not seem to hurt or slow Peter, the number of clean blows mounted.
Despite a point deduction from Peter in round nine for double-punching, the big man came on strong at the end of rounds throughout the contest often stopping the boxing master Toney in his tracks.
The final two rounds proved difficult to score as both men desperately struggled for the win. Hard shots from Peter versus multiple, though less hurting, punches from Toney offered judges alternatives in scoring.
Scoring of the bout was 116-111 and 116-111 Peter; and 115-112 Toney. JEBoxing scored the bout 116-111 Toney.
Toney was incredulous following the bout.
“I made him miss a lot and I countered,” Toney protested. "The whole world saw I won the fight."
It was equally clear that the tough guy, never-give-an-inch competitor was not in any hurry to mend his relationship with the winner.
“He’ll have to kill me to get respect, ” said Toney.
Peter was clearly overcome by the moment and gave simple praise for the defeated multi-weight class champion.
“He’s a strong guy,” said Peter of Toney. Indeed Peter aknowledged that Toney took his big punches and kept fighting.
With the win, Peter gains a mandatory shot at Oleg Maskaev’s new title.
posted by JE Boxing at Saturday, September 02, 2006
13 Comments:
Well, what did I tell you guys!!!??? I KNEW something was going to go sour in this fight! I KNEW it! Look back at my comments! And yes, 'The Cruiser' does indeed (usually!) know when to 'hold em' when it comes to betting...
Okay guys, here it goes; I thought this was a very close fight. I thought Toney won virtually ALL of the early and middle rounds - and some CLEARLY - and Peter the later rounds. I had it 7-5, and 115-112 for Toney. There were two other rounds (one early and one mid or late, I believe) that I thought was close enough to conceivably give to Peter. This would have made it 6-6, or at the absolute most perhaps 7-5 Peter. 8-4 or 9-3 for Peter??? Absolutely NO WAY WHATSOEVER. I'm talking zero, zilch, negatory. If Peter won this fight (and I don't think he did) it was by the absolute skin of his teeth at best. Peter win 8 or 9 rounds here? Absolutely no way in hell or a summer night in L.A folks...
PERIOD.
* The 38 obviously didn't help any, but J.T's weight/condtioning caused this fight (yet again) to be unnecessarily close on my scorecard. He faded towards the end, and I thought to myself at the conclusion; "Damnit you fat piece of s*it, I had you barely winning this fight, and your fat ass and sloppy gut may have caused you another draw, or who knows...Perhaps even lost you a razor-close decision. Even though Peter wasn't in optimum shape/weight himself, I was almost hoping this to be the case.
But those two cards/scores were just plain ridiculous with their margins...Unbelieveable...(WTF???)
You know I picked Peter to win -- I just didn't think he pulled it off. His punches were heavier but they weren't plentiful enough to offset Toney's abundant attack. I will say that I thought Toney was in better condition than last time out. He was able to stay off the ropes for most of the fight. His legs appeared fresher. Had he stayed on the ropes, he wouldn't have survived the fight.
Troy --- You know what I thought about Toney before the fight -- I thought he would lose badly. Despite the fact that I thought he beat Peter, I still think he is not going to win a world title. I think Peter is going to have more trouble than we may have thought when he faces Maskaev. Who knows what happens to Toney now.
Well guys, I think both the WEIGHT and now AGE showed a bit with Toney the other night. Honestly though, through the first 6 or 8 rounds, I didn't even have it CLOSE. But yeah, the second half of the fight Peter came on, and he definetly buzzed him a few times. As for Maskaev-Peter, Maskaev is a bit better technically, but also just as slow if not slower. It's a very interesting fight, but due to the almighty 'chin factor' - I'll go with 'Slingin Sammy'.
Despite thinking Toney won this fight convincingly, I think he would be no match for Klitschko. No heavyweight in the game today is going to simply outbox Klitschko.
Agreed, J.E. Not at 38 he isn't.
Klitschko is much quicker and he will land his bombs with greater frequency.
Agreed. Quicker hands, much better technique (straighter punches) jab, etc. Liahkovich beats him as well. Virtually no doubt in my mind that those are the two best hvy's on the planet right now. Who would I put third?
A healthy Brewster or Brock.
I just wonder if Brewster is finished.
He may be. If I were advising him, I would tell him to retire. He's over-30, and taken a HELL of alot of punches to the head.
* On second thought, I would probably sneak Brock in his place. Brock is nothing special to me, but he's definetly a bit 'fresher' than Brewster.
I hope the Brewster isn't done. I'm not sure he can regain the belt, but he adds some excitement to the division.
J.E- Brewster is one tough S.O.B, and still a top-contender in my book...But my gut is telling me he's 'done'. And I think yours is saying the same.
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