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Hasim Rahman vs James Toney II

Rahman vs. Toney II July 16!!! - FightHype Community

ESPN - Rahman, Toney agree to fight on July 16 - Boxing

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Rahman, Toney agree to fight on July 16

Associated Press

Updated: May 30, 2008, 3:15 PM ET

Heavyweights Hasim Rahman and James Toney, both in dire need of a significant victory, will meet July 16 in a rematch after their handlers came to an agreement this week.

"Top Rank and I and the fighters have agreed to the fight," Toney promoter Dan Goossen said. "It's a very tough division to have a high-profile fight in without it being for a world championship, but the winner of this fight will have another opportunity to for another championship."

They will meet in a scheduled 12-rounder at the Pechanga resort in Temecula, Calif., Goossen said. He was working Friday to finalize a television deal for the fight.

"I think they're both marquee names, but they are at a crossroads in their careers," said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, which promotes Rahman. "It's all or nothing in a division that has suffered terribly with lackluster performances lately. The winner of the fight should be given the opportunity to fight for one of the titles."

Rahman, a former two-time heavyweight champion, fought to a draw with Toney in March 2006 to retain his version of the title.

Both fighters have struggled since.

In his next fight five months later, Rahman (45-6-2, 36 KOs) lost his title when he was knocked out by Oleg Maskaev for the second time. Rahman has won four bouts since, but he has had uneven performances against low-level competition.

The downfall for Toney (70-6-3, 43 KOs), a former middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight champion, has been even more severe. After the draw with Rahman, he lost his next two fights to Samuel Peter, including a one-sided decision in their January 2007 title eliminator rematch.

Toney outpointed journeyman Dan Batchelder four months later, but both fighters tested positive for steroids afterward. They were both suspended and Toney hasn't fought since.

The suspension was Toney's second for a positive steroid test. The first, in April 2005, cost him a heavyweight title win against John Ruiz, when his decision victory was overturned to a no contest and the belt returned to Ruiz.

"Toney knows he needs to show something," Rahman co-manager Steve Nelson said when the fight was first presented to him. "We know we need to show something. This fight can show who can move on as a factor in the division. We're both in the same boat. It's a fight to see who goes on. The guy who loses is done. There is nothing more that can be done or said for the loser. And there is a little unfinished business between these guys."

Does anyone care about this? I will watch, but think both guys don't have much left. Maybe I'm wrong. What do you think?

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Originally Posted by Splandman (Post 477364)

Rahman vs. Toney II July 16!!! - FightHype Community

ESPN - Rahman, Toney agree to fight on July 16 - Boxing

Does anyone care about this? I will watch, but think both guys don't have much left. Maybe I'm wrong. What do you think?

Rahman is finished!

Toney on the other hand is one of the best P4P fighters today, even at his age, and if he was fighting at a lower weight class would be the undesputed Champion.

Problem is, Toney's naturally a super middleweight who blew up to HW and doesn't carry nearly the amount of power that gave him the nick name "Lights Out." Not to mention these HWs are much bigger and stronger than him.

Not a really interesting fight at all, but I'll watch. If Toney was smart, he would fight RJJ again or even vie for a super fight against Hopkins.

The only thing Toney is P4P of these days is the all-you-can-eat buffet line. Considering he doesn't seem to care about his weight at all, do you really think he would ever shrink himself down to even cruiserweight, let alone down to light heavyweight. Toney was one of the greater fighters of our generation, but the way he's let himself after his fights with Jirov, Holyfield, and Ruiz doesn't reflect well on himself. As for Rahman, well, the guy's wasted all his opportunities and good will he created after upsetting Lewis 7 years ago.

This fight is pointless. The loser's gonna need to retire, because he'll have nothing going for him.

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Originally Posted by Salvy_Mic (Post 478017)

Lol, very true, but I think a fat Toney is still more skilled than every fighter in the HW division. Not that he can beat them, because there is a big size and strength disadvantage but skill wise, he's better than every single one IMO.

But yeh, he really does need to stop being a cocky asshole, and take this shit seriously. Especially at his age, if he wants to get any shot at being the HW champion. Unfortunately, this wont happen and Toney will eventually get too old, get KO'd, and be totally irrelevent

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Originally Posted by harlemhustla145 (Post 478035)

agree

I have been wanting to see Tony come in shape at HW for a while now. I just don't think it will happen