James "Lights Out" Toney (71-6-3, 44 KOs) defeated Hasim "The Rock" Rahman( By TKO when the referee, on advice from the ringside physician, stopped the fight before the beginning of the fourth round. "It was a headbutt," said Rahman. "I couldn't see out of my right eye."
After the fight, Toney was predictably confident. "I'm the best heavyweight in the world. I wanted to keep fighting but he (Rahman) quit."
Before the contest, both fighters promised to give up their boxing careers should they lose. With such a self-imposed ultimatum, it seems surprising to this writer that Rahman would shut it down so soon.
The larger view could be that Toney was gaining momentum over the first three rounds and and saw a full twelve rounds as an exercise in diminishing returns. After a slow first round, Toney's greater handspeed served him well, especially his straight right, one of which straggered Rahman in the middle of the third, with one more to punctuate the end of the round.
In a heavyweight division ravenous for talent, the 39-year-old Toney has managed to keep himself in the spotlight with this win, and will likely find himself in the ring with a legitimate title contender before the year is finished. An interesting matchup might be rising American star Chris Arreola, though it's unlikely that Dan Goosen, who promotes both fighters, would risk such a fight.
The Undercard
Marcos Dickerson vs. Heleman Holguin--Heavyweights
Dickerson (2-0, 2 KOs) wins by KO at 2:04 of round three after knocking the Dickerson (0-1) down for the third time in the round.
Alejandro Bogarin vs. Fransisco Santana--Junior Middleweights
Santana (9-1, 5 KOs) wins by KO with a shot to Bogarin's (8-6-3, 2 KOs) liver at 2:34 of the fourth round.
Rico Ramos vs. Johnathan Velardez--Super Bantamweights
Ramos (5-0, 3 KOs) wins a unanimous decision over Velardez (6-1, 4 KOs) with scores from all three judges reading 39-37. Suite 101 scored the fight 40-36 for Ramos.
Juan Angel Zavala vs. Carlos Herrera--Junior Lightweights
With a knockdown via left hook in the first round giving him a head start, Herrera (2-2, 2 KOs) took a unanimous decision over Zavala (0-2). Two judges scored the fight 39-36 (same as Suite101) while the third scored it 40-35.
Mike Dallas Jr. vs. Artemio Reyes Jr.--Jr. Welterweights
Dallas (4-0) used his superior speed and skills to win a unanimous decision over the slower-footed Reyes. The judges scores were 39-37 twice and 39-36 from the third judge. Suite101 scored the fight 40-36.
The fight card, presented by Goosen Tutor Promotions, was televised by Fox Sports Net "The Best Damn Sports Show Period"
