WBC heavyweight title fight to be seen on HBO - not PPV.
By Mike Indri (photo by Richie Maldonado)
Retired Boxers Foundation
If boxing fans wanted to watch Jameel McCline getting embarrassed against Zuri Lawrence (not a bad fighter, yet no knockouts in 34 fights says everything), or David Tua escape his last bout (vs. Cisse Salif: 10/21/05) with a very "friendly" split-decision win, or Shannon Briggs feasting on hand picked opposition along his comeback trail, or even Lance Whitaker…yes, Lance Whitaker; they had to pay for it.
When people continually question why the sport of boxing hasn’t progressed, or even maintained for that matter, in the eyes of current day sports fans, it’s obvious that sooner or later (hopefully sooner) the powers that be in the boxing business, must ease up a bit on their veracious and insatiable money making appetite which has driven away so many.
Whether it’s the lack of a true charismatic star, the limited television exposure, the reluctance of the best (fighters) to fight the best, or the audacity to claim more champions and titles then the average fight fan could possibly fathom, as being the main reason for such a quandary within the heavyweight division these days, the glaring fact remains; the title of "World Heavyweight Champion" doesn’t proudly resonate the same status, respect or honor these days as the grandest title in all of sport should…… and always has.
Several of these aforementioned problems are to be addressed, come March 18th , when James "Lights Out" Toney challenges World Boxing Council Heavyweight Champion Hasim "The Rock" Rahman at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
"We are excited about this fight," proudly exclaimed Kery Davis, HBO’s senior vice-president of sports programming. "Excited it’s on HBO, and not pay-per-view, as this is what boxing needs to move this sport forward."
Top Rank’s Bob Arum, the heavyweight champion of promoters, concurred. "Being on HBO, not pay-per-view, will mean maximum viewers. The problem today is the bigger fights are always on pay-per-view - which isn’t good for boxing. This will be a great service to boxing, with these two great heavyweights."
While the press conference announcing this fight was held this past Tuesday at the fancy Tavern on the Green restaurant, located in the lushness of New York’s Central Park, both fighters agreed their will be nothing fancy come fight night.
"I’m on a seek & destroy mission, I’ll be ready," assured Rahman (41-5-1, 33 KO’s), who was named the WBC interim champion after beating Monte Barrett in a lackluster twelve round unanimous decision bout August 13, 2005. After four scheduled bouts with WBC champion Vitali Klitschko were postponed, (due to various Klitschko injuries) and the Ukrainian fighter’s subsequent retirement, which left the title vacant, Rahman was awarded the WBC heavyweight title - as per WBC rules.
"With me, the best is yet to come," added the two-time champ, "James Toney will bring out the best in me, he’s getting knocked out!"
The usually raucous and long winded Toney (69-4-2 with 43 KO’s), a former middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight world champion, appeared calm and confident, "Here I am fighting for the championship again," stated the dapper future hall of famer as he laid out his fight plan, "I ain’t going nowhere, I’ll be right there in front of him. I can’t run, I’m not like Chris Byrd or Roy Jones - shaking my butt. Come the fight, I’ll be there all night long."
The Rahman - Toney heavyweight championship fight certainly is an intriguing match up, and quite possibly the biggest, most meaningful fight to be made this year, in a division which could dearly use some excitement. The power punching Rahman pitted against the sharply clever and counterpunching wizardry of Toney; and both fighters promising a knockout!
Tickets are now available at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office or by calling Ticketmaster at 1 (800) 736-1420. Tickets can also be purchased on line at www.Ticketmaster.com .
While this clash of great heavyweight forces may be too difficult to predict the foreseeable victor, one thing is certain…..the boxing fan has already won with Rahman vs. Toney on HBO.
