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Wow, it only gets harder to defend this favorite sport of mine when things like this keep happening consistently.
Hopkins-Taylor I almost comes to mind here. Because after all, how are men aging into their late 30s-40s that do this lame thing called "box", supposed to be marketed and make money for greedy telvision execs, promoters, etc? People don't want to watch fighters "boxing" in "boxing", they want blood and guts and KOs and maybe even death, thats the only thing that matters. People don't want to see fighters out-manuevering their opponents, who enjoys elusiveness when they watch? Who deserves to win a fight when all they do is avoid punches and counter with ease and perfection? Yup, this decision makes all the sense in the world
And btw, apparently only youth can be a money attraction as well in boxing.
In short, Samuel Peter, in ANY way, shape, or form that you look at tonights fight, did not beat James Toney. It wasn't, by any means, a blow-out by Toney, but i see no way, in that Peter couldn't effectively hurt James and James continued to evade and counter punches, that Peter could be given a decision tonight, and by such a wide margin. (Which makes even less sense given the point deduction in the 9th.) James did what many predicted of the veteran, he successfully outboxed and made Peter miss all night, sometimes 2-3 times in the same occasion. Peter had 3-4 "flurry moments" in the fight, and it was obvious that Peter lived up to being one of the hardest punchers Toney's ever faced in his career, but James took it all in stride it seemed, taking advantage of the referee's neglegence (i.e. the hand on the ropes, holding Peter's arm away from the ref), which veterans know how to do. None of this was in the extreme, however, as Toney put on another brilliant performance of boxing, of which i had complete confidence he would. James, bluntly, gets off on proving people wrong. And tonight's crowd got it right, regardless of the neglegence of those 2 of 3 judges, he did prove people wrong. He took everything Peter could throw at him, and he out-classed him, winning 8 out of the 12 rounds on my scorecard (and i genuinely felt giving for Peter in that scorecard).
It's a shame, in short. If these corrupt "politics" don't cease, this sport will never thrive again in our time. It's just simply unfair and unjust. I'm yet again, disgusted by the fact that these judges that are appointed to do a simple job, fail so miserably once again. People say, "well, it's just a fight", well, it could very well be the difference between James fighting again or not.. (thankfully James is too prideful for a bad decision and has vowed to take this decision to justice, and to continue to fight) Even press scoring, who's scores had for Peter early, evened out and were in James favor by the final bell to end the 12th.
I see no problem in James continuing to fight. He proved he can outlast and take, arguably, the hardest puncher, in the heaviest division's punches, and he virtually did it with ease. I feel as long as he can't be knocked out, he can outbox anyone in the heavyweight or cruiserweight divison. (It'd be pretty tough, i image, for James to get to light-heavy at this point in his life) He proved that he still has a decent amount of stamina left, as he stayed consistent (as did Peter to my surprise) all 12 rounds. Obviously the drinking, cigar smoking, etc. hasn't taken him down yet. And i feel when, and only when that happens, will James Toney honestly lose a fight. James should continue on, out-boxing opponents like he does so well.. hey, he's not a shoo into the Hall of Fame for nothing..
So to James Toney, here's one fan that sees the truth and will continue to give his support until you, and you only, decides on retirement from an undenyingly impressive career.
Hopkins-Taylor I almost comes to mind here. Because after all, how are men aging into their late 30s-40s that do this lame thing called "box", supposed to be marketed and make money for greedy telvision execs, promoters, etc? People don't want to watch fighters "boxing" in "boxing", they want blood and guts and KOs and maybe even death, thats the only thing that matters. People don't want to see fighters out-manuevering their opponents, who enjoys elusiveness when they watch? Who deserves to win a fight when all they do is avoid punches and counter with ease and perfection? Yup, this decision makes all the sense in the world
And btw, apparently only youth can be a money attraction as well in boxing.In short, Samuel Peter, in ANY way, shape, or form that you look at tonights fight, did not beat James Toney. It wasn't, by any means, a blow-out by Toney, but i see no way, in that Peter couldn't effectively hurt James and James continued to evade and counter punches, that Peter could be given a decision tonight, and by such a wide margin. (Which makes even less sense given the point deduction in the 9th.) James did what many predicted of the veteran, he successfully outboxed and made Peter miss all night, sometimes 2-3 times in the same occasion. Peter had 3-4 "flurry moments" in the fight, and it was obvious that Peter lived up to being one of the hardest punchers Toney's ever faced in his career, but James took it all in stride it seemed, taking advantage of the referee's neglegence (i.e. the hand on the ropes, holding Peter's arm away from the ref), which veterans know how to do. None of this was in the extreme, however, as Toney put on another brilliant performance of boxing, of which i had complete confidence he would. James, bluntly, gets off on proving people wrong. And tonight's crowd got it right, regardless of the neglegence of those 2 of 3 judges, he did prove people wrong. He took everything Peter could throw at him, and he out-classed him, winning 8 out of the 12 rounds on my scorecard (and i genuinely felt giving for Peter in that scorecard).
It's a shame, in short. If these corrupt "politics" don't cease, this sport will never thrive again in our time. It's just simply unfair and unjust. I'm yet again, disgusted by the fact that these judges that are appointed to do a simple job, fail so miserably once again. People say, "well, it's just a fight", well, it could very well be the difference between James fighting again or not.. (thankfully James is too prideful for a bad decision and has vowed to take this decision to justice, and to continue to fight) Even press scoring, who's scores had for Peter early, evened out and were in James favor by the final bell to end the 12th.
I see no problem in James continuing to fight. He proved he can outlast and take, arguably, the hardest puncher, in the heaviest division's punches, and he virtually did it with ease. I feel as long as he can't be knocked out, he can outbox anyone in the heavyweight or cruiserweight divison. (It'd be pretty tough, i image, for James to get to light-heavy at this point in his life) He proved that he still has a decent amount of stamina left, as he stayed consistent (as did Peter to my surprise) all 12 rounds. Obviously the drinking, cigar smoking, etc. hasn't taken him down yet. And i feel when, and only when that happens, will James Toney honestly lose a fight. James should continue on, out-boxing opponents like he does so well.. hey, he's not a shoo into the Hall of Fame for nothing..
So to James Toney, here's one fan that sees the truth and will continue to give his support until you, and you only, decides on retirement from an undenyingly impressive career.
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