By Tom Donelson
Vince Phillips wanted one more shot at the title and standing in his way was the unheralded Jesse Feliciano. The 42 year old Phillips' goal was to unleash his right at Feliciano, a right that stopped Kotsya Tzyu nine years ago. Feliciano had one strategy; wear the older fighter down and hope that age caught up to him.
Feliciano career resembled a career journeyman but what he had lacked in talent he made up in heart. He was a tough hombre with a big heart. From the very beginning of the fight, he marched up to Phillips’ chest and just threw punches. His goal was to force Phillipss to fight and by staying inside, he neutralized Phillips' right since he could not fully extend it.
This fight showed boxing at its best as both fighters averaged 200 punches per round. Neither fighter slowed down and throughout the fight, both fighters executed their strategies. Phillips moved slightly to the right or back to give his right chance to land. Feliciano continuously moved forward and took Phillips best right. That was the key to his victory. With his ability to take Phillips best shots, Feliciano could keep coming forward.
Phillips used all of his ring experience but as the rounds moved in the late rounds, the 42 year-old fighter slowed down just enough for Feliciano to connect more consistently. Phillips' punches became slower and Feliciano own right showed effects upon Phillips own face. At his peak, Phillips would have dispatched Feliciano but this was not Phillps at his peak. This was an older Phillips, a fighter with his crafty intact but lacked the quickness that made him one of the best at his best. Feliciano grit proved decisive. And both fighters threw punches from the opening bell and they continued throwing until the final bell.
Toney looked the reincarnation of Tony “Two Ton” Galento, round around the middle. Only Toney did not have the vicious "Two Ton" power, but instead came in this fight as the cute boxer. Hasim Rahman waliked in the ring as a chisel heavyweight and one of the heavier punchers in the division. Toney had to fight the perfect fight and against Rahman, he was facing the strongest fighter of his career. In addition, Rahman has shown that he can fight at a high activity pace.
Toney attempted to become second oldest fighter to become a heavyweight champion, yet many factors favored his opponent, Rahman. The Rock's size and power along with his age was his biggest advantage. Rahman punches were the heavy punches but in the early rounds, it was Toney accuracy vs. Rahman high output and power. Rahman did not appear to be bother by Toney power but Toney punches found their targets more often. His right found Rahman's face but Rahman kept coming forward.
Starting in the fifth, Rahman jab began to make a difference and Toney showed sign of fatigue. Toney advantage was his craftiness and ability to come through in big fights. His only lost in a championship fight was against Roy Jones. What Rahman showed in this fight was a more effective left hook and his body shots began to wear the smaller Toney down.
Going into the final round, Rahman’s activity appeared to give him the advantage as he threw the more punches and his output nearly doubled Toney in the later rounds and more than the average heavyweight. In the last round, Rahman threw ninety punches. The judges gave the fight to neither man as the fight was a majority draw.
Rahman showed determination but he showed weakness as Toney’s right consistently hit its mark. Rahman threw 933 punches, but Toney connected on 42% of his punches. Rahman threw twice the punches as the average heavyweight but he failed to hit Toney with his patented right as Toney defensive skill kept in the fight. Rahman best punch was his jab. Rahman appeared to have the edge but two of the judges equally gave credit to Toney accuracy and Rahman activities.
Nothing was solved except that Rahman showed that while he may be the WBC title holder, he is not the main guy in the division. That will belong to the winner of the Wladimir Klitschko- Chris Byrd.
Toney came in the fight at his heaviest and may have easily lost this fight but he showed why he is one of the best pound for pound fighter over the past three decades. Despite being exhausted early in the fight and being pounded by a hard hitting heavyweight, his defensive skills including rolling with the punches. What he lacked is a punch that can hurt a big heavyweight. Other than Holyfield, he has yet to stop a heavyweight fighter. Toney is pure entertainment and brings an excitement into a division badly in need of excitement and credibility. But at 37 years age and Middleweight punch competing with the big boys, Toney is not the future of the heavyweight.
Which brings us to the serious heavyweight division. If Lamon Brewster successfully defend his title on April 1, he becomes the true challenger to the winner of the Chris Byrd-Wladimir Klitschko. Everyone else, including Toney and Rahman, are just sitting in the line waiting for the three best Heavyweights finally lace it up and settle who is the true king. The restoration of the Heavyweight division credibility begins on April 22nd.
