I gave Mc Callum 3 rds, with every possible benefit of the doubt. Toney was lighting him up from the outside and was winning rds pretty much every time he would let his hands go. Mike tried but he had no answer for Toney's speed and power; the shots he threw lacked any strenght or weight. You can see by the seventh rd a look of resignation on his face. Toney had him going the last rd. The draw was preposterous, just as Mike's comments about him actually deserving the decision.
I intend to score the second one. But i've watched the British version, and both announcers (Drake and Minter) had it for Mc Callum by 1 point; then Gary Mason added he had it 118-113 for Mc Callum. Obviously they were scoring Mike's pitty-pat punches over Toney's bazookas. You cannot use amateur rules to score a pro fight. It was obvious during the last rd who the winner was.
If they were pitty Patty punches wouldn't you expect Toney to have walked straight through them? You obviously have some man love for James Fat boy but they were close fights. I thought McCallum edged one of the fights but they were too close to be sure.
Well, he did walk through them pretty much as he pleased, didn't he? He was pacing himself throughout the fight, and he understood as soon as the second rd Mike was there for the taking. He finished without a scratch on his face and never got hurt once, contrary to his opponent. Mike was brave, but got outgunned and outfought, beat at his own game, which is staying in the pocket, slipping and countering. And of course, Toney doesn't need anyone's fanboyism, he's rightfully earned everything he's got, both in his wins and his losses.
For all the love Toney gets as this virtuoso he could have easily lost the decisions against McCallum (2x), Johnson, and Tiberi square in his prime years and not many would argue with it. Tack Griffin (2x), Jones, and Thadzi to that list and its easy to see that Toney's supposed greatness depended what shape he showed up in and whether or not he had a guy in front of him who cooperated. I think when he showed up in shape and had a guy come at him he was hell for anyone. But his competitiveness and ability could swing dramatically down from there.
Yeah, it was a bad decision. I watched that one on TVKO in '91. Both guys were so well schooled - it was a chess match all the way. Toney was in prime shape for that fight, apparently.
Then why were the announcers wondering live what kept Mc Callum's up after absorbing all these flush bombs by Toney, lol? It's on effing tape.