WBC Greenlights Peter/Toney II
By Robert Ecksel September 26th, 2006WBC/Jose Sulaiman dance on the head of a pin
The World Boxing Council, which not long ago gave their imprimatur to the Sept. 2 Sam Peter/James Toney WBC heavyweight eliminator at the Staples Center in L.A., with the winner (Peter) to fight the winner of the WBC heavyweight title fight between then-champion Hasim Rahman and Oleg Maskaev, has approved by a vote of 21 to 10 a rematch between Peter and Toney.
In a statement released to the press, the WBC said the quick and surprising approval of a Peter/Toney rematch is in no way a reflection of the skewed and confusing verdict of the judges in that bout. The WBC Board of Governors reached their decision for two other reasons.
1. First, for having been an extremely close fight which divided the opinions of the media and fans. This rematch will clear the air and we will have an official undisputable challenger to our new champion Oleg Maskaev.
2. The WBC believes that at this moment there can not be a more interesting heavyweight fight than this rematch. There is a huge public demand for this rematch and it will be very good for the promoters, as well as the prestige and the importance of boxing in the world.
WBC President Jose Sulaiman said, “James Toney was No. 1 ranked official challenger and he had no need to fight anyone to gain the right to contend for the title. By choosing Samuel Peter, the highest rated boxer adopted a top-level sports decision and the WBC wishes that the official challenger be the winner of this rematch so nobody has doubts about it. The WBC decided, however, that should a purse offer be necessary for this rematch, the purse will be divided 55 percent for Samuel Peter and 45 percent for James Toney.â€?
“Samuel Peter spoke with me about his respect for the decision made by the WBC,â€? continued Sulaiman. “He also stated that even though he wants to fight for the title immediately, he will accept the rematch to show once again his merits to contend for the title.
“The WBC invites all parties to kindly restrain from using a hard language in their public statements, since boxing is a sport for gentlemen and we all would like to keep it that way.”
I’m not sure whether to say “Oy vey� or “Jesus H. Christ.�
September 26th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
Well now I won’t feel so bad writing about the WBC since they’ve at least at least done one thing good in “Helping the Children.” I wouldn’t feel that bad anyway but their “ordering” anything other than a champion to fight a mandatory is pure bullshit. They’ll make their own rules by some cockamaimaee vote but won’t “order” Pongsaklek Wonjongkam to fight a mandatory in his first 2 1/2 years of holding his title? C’mon - the WBC is still a trashy piece of shit that in some eyes has unfortunately has become the “best” title of the bunch for champions to hold. Sulaiman and the WBCrapola remain nothing more than a band of thieves IMO.
September 26th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Yes, I believe this rematch should be made; and I believe the IBF should order a rematch between Sultan Ibragimov and Ray Austin. These two fights were close enough to raise lots of doubt.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Wouldn’t it be fun to see James Toney go on Celebrity Fit Club? Somebody needs to get his fat ass into shape for the rematch.
September 27th, 2006 at 12:40 am
good. wat fight were the judges watchig. i love toney but after this fight and one more title shot, even if he wins it, hang it up!!!!!!!!
September 27th, 2006 at 6:13 am
Another chance to see two overweight tow trucks plodding their way around the ring.Hooray!Way to go wbc.
September 27th, 2006 at 7:06 am
If Toney can’t win this, there’s still another contest he might win - The Biggest Loser.
September 27th, 2006 at 10:44 am
Who cares…I think Toney is a fat overrated bore anyway. Once again there will be trash talk and a sluggish fight like his last 5; this time going to Toney; with loads of BS from him afterwards.
Forget these breadbaskets; Liakhovich / Klitschko are more interesting now at heavyweight and just because they have funny accents and don’t talk crap does not mean Toney is the best.
September 27th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
I don’t like this decision by the WBC to have a rematch. The WBC is lying they know that they are having a rematch because of the controversial decision and not because it was a good fight.
And there have been alot of close fights that could have gone either way, I mean look at De La Hoya vs Trinidad and Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Chavez, where is the rematches in those fights with controversial decisions.
Samuel Peter should fight Oleg Maskaev as scheduled and then the winner of that fight should fight James Toney because what if the second fight between Toney and Peter is as close as the first fight what are they going to do fight a third fight between them.
A win is a win even if it is a controversial decision end of story.
September 27th, 2006 at 11:41 pm
It’s funny. They pretty much admit in the second point that they’re ordering the rematch for the money.
September 28th, 2006 at 4:46 am
James Toney is fighting a young bull like Sam Peter again because the WBC mandates that course of action. Oh Well.
September 28th, 2006 at 10:23 am
The WBC is doing the right thing by ordering this rematch. First off, the judges got the fight wrong. Toney beat Sam Peter. Period. Everyone in the press row and at home (including Sam Peter fans) knows that Peter lost that fight. Controversy + Money = Rematch. Hopefully the air is cleared by the second fight as to who should take the WBC heavyweight belt from Oleg. Plus, the rematch gives Oleg more time to rest so that whoever wins the rematch, Oleg can’t have an excuse as to why he gets knocked out by either one of these guys.
September 29th, 2006 at 11:13 am
I dont agree with Robinsons suggestion that Toney should get the winner of Maskaev - Peter. Toney gets too many chances even after steroid use and crappy performances. In spite of steroid use he cut in front of Maskaev and got a shot at Rahman.
Then he cried enough so they gave him a shot at the winner of Maskaev-Rahman. He blew that against Peter. If he were that special and talented and Peter that green ; then Toney would have defeated Rahman and Peter.
To give him another title shot rightaway would be rewarding the awfullness that he has become. Rather I wish some champions would unify and forget Toney unless he is willing to work like Maskaev and come in for a real fight. I am sick of him and his fans crying all the damned time about how special he is. Maskaev TKO’ed Rahman…he can KO Toney as well. Don’t underestimate him just because he does not BS as much.