By Sammy Rozenberg
After several years of obscurity, the heavyweight division is back in the eye of public. In what many feel is currently the single most important fight in the heavyweight division, James "Lights Out" Toney will try to get a piece of "The Rock" when he meets WBC heavyweight champion, Hasim "The Rock" Rahman in Atlantic City.
The promoters of the bout and HBO, expect one of the largest viewing audiences in the history of heavyweight boxing to tune in on Saturday night. Not only is the fight being offered on regular HBO, the network is having a free preview weekend, which means just about anyone can catch the fight. Promoter Bob Arum in particular, was banking on the heavy television exposure for his fighter Hasim Rahman, and that was one of the main reasons the fight is not being held on pay-per-view.
When James Toney made his leap to the heavyweight division, most people in the business thought he would never make it. The bout against Evander Holyfield changed the public's opinion very quickly, as Toney became the only second fighter to stop Holyfield, other first was Riddick Bowe. Soon after the Holyfield bout, many of experts tried to write Holyfield off as a shot fighter.
"I beat Evander Holyfield, right? I knocked him out. All of a sudden he's old and he's shot, said Toney"
Since moving up the heavyweight division, Toney's battle with weight has been a hot topic among the boxing media. Looking at Toney's physique, a physique topping the scales at 240-250 pounds, it's almost hard to picture him winning his first major title at 160 pounds. In of the more successful boxing careers in the last 20 years, Toney has managed to win titles at 160, 168 and 190 pounds. Nonetheless, Toney still feels like the media is not giving him the credit he rightfully deserves.
"Nobody never give me credit for anything. If I was flashy like Roy Jones you all would be all over my nut sack. But you know, hey, that's the way it is. It's boxing. You know, I'm a true warrior. I'll fight anybody and everybody, anywhere, any time. It doesn't matter. I don't get, I don't get my proper respect. I'm one of the best fighters in every division I've been in, said Toney"
"Michael Nunn, Barkley, Prince Charles Williams, Jirov, Holyfield. I've fought all these guys and I still don't get no respect. But you know what, come March 18th, you all think (that) Hasim Rahman is the best heavyweight in the world and I feel like I'm the underrated underdog. I'm proving you all wrong again. It doesn't matter when I, it doesn't matter what weight I come in at, the problem is you all don't want to give me credit. I can truly fight."
A major setback to Toney's career came in the first quarter of 2005, when he decisioned John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight title, only to have the fight called a no-contest after the New York State Athletic Commission announced that Toney had tested positive for steroids. Toney is hopes to put his dark past in the closet, by beating Rahman this weekend.
Hasim Rahman, once on top of the world after knocking out Lennox Lewis in 2001 for the heavyweight championship. Soon after, Rahman was knocked out by Lewis in the rematch and went on a three fight losing streak, getting stopped by Evander Holyfield and losing a decision to John Ruiz. In 2004, Rahman rededicated himself to the sport and held nothing back in the ring. Now he is riding a 6-fight win streak, ready to make Toney win number 7.
Rahman, like Toney, is hoping that a big win this weekend will erase several of his past career disappointments.
"I'm hungry as a little bull wolf right now. I definitely feel like, you know, I'm focused, I'm ready. I've got a lot of people that believe in me, that went to bat for me. I'm going to win this fight, I'm going to win this fight. So now, you know, I'm just going to show everybody. I'm going to punish everybody and Top Rank will receive all the residuals from me," said Rahman.
The two fighters are far from friends and vow to punish one another the ring. The initial press conference to announce fight turned into a slugfest when Rahman slapped Toney in the mouth, prompting the camps to hold back both fighters from possibly injuring each
other before the actual fight takes place.
"Well he wound(ed) me like a little sissy. He got mad because when I came down the elevator, me and my wife came down. He got mad because he had no attention. So he came mad, started saying, oh the champ is here. Got to push me out of the way. Damn thing got out of hand on his behalf. People were holding me. Nobody was holding him. He scared like a little woman. He slapped me. He scratched me because he's not fast enough to hit me," said Toney.
There is heavy expectations for an exciting heavyweight fight, which is unusual when it comes to heavyweights . Most of the boxing public focuses on the lower weight classes, because of the heavyweight division has lacked fighters with charisma, lacked bouts with excitement and the top fighters, including the champions - refuse to face one another.
The boxing public, the promoters, and the networks hope that the two biggest mouths in the heavyweight division will back up the big talk and put on a show, and possibly rejuvenate the lackluster heavyweight division in the process.
