Experts Contemplate: Who Will Win, Toney or Rahman?

Experts Contemplate: Who Will Win, Toney or Rahman? By Scoop Malinowski Finally a major, meaningful Heavyweight title fight is just one week away. The long-brewing grudge rivalry between James Toney and Hasim Rahman will be settled in Atlantic City on March 18 with the winner to own the WBC Heavyweight championship. In Toney vs. Rahman we have a fascinating "now or never" clash between two talented and colorful personalities both ready to lay it all on the line - in the homestretch of their fine careers. The incomparable technical skills of the great warrior James Toney versus the unpredictable brute strength of confident champ Hasim Rahman. It does not get much better than this. And it doesn't get more confusing. Few ring observers are willing or able to make a bold prediction. Some fights are like that. They're just too close to call with too many unknown variables to handicap. Will Toney's physical fortitude be able to once again support his extraordinary mental strength at age 37? Will he be able to outskill and outslick the powerful, hungry and determined Rahman? Will Rahman put it all together again for this fight after some subpar performances, or have the KO losses to Lewis, Maskaev and Tua taken a toll? Here's what the experts such as Emanuel Steward, Floyd Mayweather, Zab Judah, Michael Buffer, Bert Sugar, Wladimir Klitschko and Arturo Gatti had to say on this most intriguing WBC Heavyweight title showdown: Mikkel Kessler (WBA Super Middleweight champ): "I think James Toney. Because I saw Rahman - he's a good fighter. But I don't think he's as good as James Toney." Leon Margules (promoter): "I like Toney because I think he's got a little too much skill. And he's been in with big punchers - nothing happened. I just think he's got too much skill, too much slick for Rahman. I don't know if he stops Rahman but I think he beats him on points fairly easily." Arturo Gatti (former two-time champion): "I'm a fan of Toney, so I wish him the best." Ross Greenburg (HBO Sports president): "Well, it's actually who puts themselves in the best shape at this point in their lives and careers. This is it. This is the crossroads fight. Are you a heavyweight champion? Or are you just going to be a contender? I think the big issue and question mark is if Toney puts himself in championship shape. And he's got all of that incredible skill, defensively and offensively, he's going to be tough to beat. Rahman's gonna have his hands full. I can't give you a winner, I'm not allowed. It's against my conscious . But it's going to be an interesting battle. And it should be a battle. Because they both want it. All I can say is it's on HBO ." Wladimir Klitschko (former WBO Heavyweight champ): "...50/50 ." Renaldo Snipes (former heavyweight contender): "You know, I hate to say this. But I don't know of Rahman has the heart anymore to beat a guy that wants to fight for the title. I don't know if Rahman has the heart anymore to get the title, or keep the title that he has. (Why do you think that?) Well, because I saw his last fights with Monte Barrett and Ruiz. He didn't seem like he wanted it. And Toney has the style, not the power, but he has the style to get under a lot of the stuff that Rahman may throw at him. Rahman is not a good fighter when it comes to uppercuts or body shots, that's not his forte. He throws the one-twos and the single right hands and single left hooks and things like that. (You think Toney wants it bad enough?) I think Toney is coming up at the right time. Because he knows there's not any real outstanding punchers out there. So I think Toney's just hitting it at the right time." James "Buddy" McGirt (trainer and former world champ): "It's going to be a great fight. I can't really...I like them both and they're both my friends so I really don't want to say too much this time. It's going to be interesting. It's going to be very interesting." Micky Ward (former junior welterweight): "I think James Toney is going to win. I think James Toney has got a lot left. He's very good as a heavyweight - more experience, and he never says die. I've never seen James hurt. He's a tough bastard ." Kathy Duva (promoter): "Oh my God, I'm probably the wrong one to ask. I honestly don't know who's going to win that fight. I'm interested to see it. They are both great competitors, and interesting, and their styles are that they both can come up with the big punch. They both can do anything. I'm very interested to see what happens." Larry Hazzard (New Jersey Boxing Commissioner): "Well, in my position, I can't make those type of predictions. Especially with the fact that they're going to be fighting in Atlantic City on March 18. I expect it to be a very exciting fight. Both are tremendous fighters. Both have a lot of experience. It should be a very exciting fight." Ron Scott Stevens (New York State Boxing Commissioner): "I don't know who's going to win it, because it's a great fight. I've heard a lot of people like Toney and they think that he'll outbox Rahman. But Rahman's a strong, big guy and I don't know if he will ever be as good as he was the night that he beat Lennox Lewis. But I've seen Rahman in the gym on different occasions, and when he's dedicated, he's one of the two or three best heavyweights in the world. I normally would give you an answer and make a pick but, to me, this one's pick 'em. It's a great fight. One of the best heavyweight fights they can make." Iceman John Scully (trainer): "I think that Hasim might find it a little harder to hit James as flush as he wants to, as he appears to think it will be. Also, I think James is an unusually tough man, you know? I also tend to think James Toney will be up for this fight more than he has been in a good while and with his counterpunching and intelligence I think he could pull off a pretty good decision. I think Rock is a very tough and strong man, though, and James will respect that regardless of what he says in the prefight. Thats why I see James winning a 12 round decision." Emanuel Steward (Hall of Fame trainer/mgr./TV analyst): "Very interesting fight. Lennox and I were together...I kind of...I never will bet against Toney, that's one of my philosophies. But this time I won't bet for him either . So I'll leave it at that." Bert Sugar (historian): "Toney. I don't think Rahman is as good a fighter as that one punch against Lewis indicates. What has he won lately, a fight over Monte Barrett, that was a fight? That was about as exciting as a Super Bowl. And I think Toney is a throwback fighter. If you watch his defense - that's as good as anybody's. He blocks punches with his shoulders. He's an excellent fighter. Of course he'll come in looking like a Goodyear Blimp, as heavy as he is. But he can still fight." Floyd Mayweather (Pound-for-pound best in boxing): "It's a good fight. (Who you pick?) I'm from Michigan ." Zab Judah (former undisputed welterweight champ): "I don't know. Two big guys. Two good heavyweights. Toney's a very skillful fighter. Rahman's a big dude. Anything can happen. Interesting fight. It's about the only good heavyweight fight they can put on. (Put you on the spot, who you pick?) I can't even say. They're my boys." Michael Buffer (ring announcer): "Great fight. I don't want to pick a winner. I gotta be neutral, I'm working the fight . It's a pick 'em. Toney as a heavyweight is an enigma. He wants to prove he's a true heavyweight. We have to see if he shows up in shape. He has a fighter's heart. Rahman is a true heavyweight. I look for it to be a great fight, a close fight. I look for it to all depend on the conditioning of Toney." Monte Barrett (heavyweight contender): "Rahman. Rahman's stronger. I haven't seen Toney take power like Rahman's, so. Rahman's got a good jab and a good right hand. So I'm looking for Rahman." Harold Knight (trainer and director of boxing operations at the Great Gorge, NJ new training facility): "Well, it depends on who comes in the better shape obviously, but styles makes fights and Rahman's style is perfect for Toney. Too many people are picking Toney. I'm going with the underdog! Toney slips and slides and rolls with the punches. If Rock hits him in the arms, the hips, outmuscles him - and not load up with the big punches, it could be interesting. If Toney hurts Rock early, that could be bad for Rock. I do not know if he hits hard enough to hurt Rock. And I believe Rock won the first round by the so-called slap in Cancun." Cedric Kushner (promoter): "It's an interesting fight. I think it's two guys that are less than in their prime. Which is not a problem in terms of quality of the fight. It's a very interesting fight. I think I like James Toney in the fight. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if Hasim won, he's a capable fighter. It's a very interesting fight."