|
Fight for heavyweight crown
15/03/2006 20:18 - (SA)
New York - Sparks almost started flying three days too early when WBC champion Hasim Rahman stormed into a James Toney news conference on Wednesday wearing a crown, ahead of the pair's world title fight here on Saturday.
"Here comes the champ. The champion is over here," a member of Rahman's entourage yelled at Toney. "You are out of shape. You have no belt. He's a bust. He has no respect. He's no good."
The booming words stirred the scene for a fight that has barely raised a ripple of interest in a division that has lost British champion Lennox Lewis and Ukranian heir apparent Vitali Klitschko to retirement.
But Bob Arum, who began promoting heavyweight title fights 40 years ago, is pinning his hopes to revive the division's faded glory on Rahman defeating Toney, 37,in an all-American title showdown at Atlantic City, New Jersey.
"All due to respect to James, but we believe Rahman is the best heavyweight to make tremendous advances," he said. "This fight will be one tremendous battle and will make the heavyweight championship proud."
Rahman said he thinks more major fights will be needed before one heavyweight champion is regarded as "head and shoulders above the rest", a nod to a possible tournament of champions that now seems an unlikely prospect.
Expected a good fight
Toney, 69-4 with two drawn and 43 knockouts, ignored the taunting words of Rahman's handler and said he expected a good fight.
"I'm ready to go. All the talking has been done," he said.
Toney is a former middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight world champion. He has not been beaten in the ring in his past 16 fights and says he is looking forward to the step up in class.
"I feel good. I'm eating hot dogs and chicken and what I want to eat. I'm in shape and can box with one arm," he said.
"(Rahman) does not pose a problem ... I expect to be the new heavyweight champion."
Rahman, 41-5 with one drawn and 33 knockouts, said he expects the fight to go the distance.
"There really isn't much to say. The work has been done, now we have to show up and put the icing on the cake," he said. "I don't take anything for granted and just show up. I'm in shape."
Toney won the WBA heavyweight title last year with a 12-round decision over John Ruiz, but tested positive for the steroid nandrolone after the fight.
The New York State Athletic Commission suspended him for 90 days, fined him 10 000 dollars and changed the result to no decision. That allowed Ruiz to keep the crown he then subsequently lost last December to Russia's Nikolay Valuev in Berlin.
Toney's camp claims that medical treatment he received following biceps and triceps surgery caused the positive test result.
- SAPA
|
