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MEXICO CITY (AP) - Hasim Rahman and James Toney fought their first round for the WBC heavyweight title, but it wasn't in the ring: It was in a hotel hallway in Cancun, Mexico.
The brawl occurred late Monday between titleholder Rahman and Toney at the Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa, where the World Boxing Council was holding an awards ceremony.
While Toney was being interviewed by Mexican TV network Television Azteca before a ****tail party, Rahman walked by. After they made eye contact, they exchanged words, and then started punching each other, according to a news release from the WBC.
It took several people to split the pair, and neither boxer was hurt, said WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman.
Last month, Rahman was voted WBC champ after titleholder Vitali Klitschko retired with a knee ligament tear. Rahman held the title briefly in 2001. The WBC ordered Rahman to meet Toney, and their promoters had until Tuesday to reach an agreement on a fight date, otherwise it would be put to a purse bid.
The brawl occurred late Monday between titleholder Rahman and Toney at the Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa, where the World Boxing Council was holding an awards ceremony.
While Toney was being interviewed by Mexican TV network Television Azteca before a ****tail party, Rahman walked by. After they made eye contact, they exchanged words, and then started punching each other, according to a news release from the WBC.
It took several people to split the pair, and neither boxer was hurt, said WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman.
Last month, Rahman was voted WBC champ after titleholder Vitali Klitschko retired with a knee ligament tear. Rahman held the title briefly in 2001. The WBC ordered Rahman to meet Toney, and their promoters had until Tuesday to reach an agreement on a fight date, otherwise it would be put to a purse bid.
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