Looks like both fighters are highly motivated and are in excellent shape. Excellent news for the fans.
Presuming they both come in in decent shape, I think the biggest factor in the fight will be how Rahman handles Toney's left hook to the body. It seemed to really bother him the first fight (watch how he walks back to his corner in the later rounds). If Toney has prepared properly, he may be able to execute better, being the left hook to the body, than the first fight. Rahman had better have an answer for this or he might get KO'ed late in the fight.
Yep, he's in great shape just like the "Atomic Bull". Sorry, but I don't think he's got much left. I'd love to see him give it a crack against ol' Golota, though.
Early in camp he was training 3 times a day on mon-wed-fri and 2 times a day on tues-thur-say. He has boxed over 100 rounds in 3 weeks. He is lifting weights, but I have finally gotten it through his head that it's not all about strength. He is doing circuit weight training and the reps are in the 30-45 rep range. His weight training consists of basic mutlijoint lifts. Squats, barbell pulls overs, and deadlift. 30-45 reps of each lift done one right after the other with no rest in between sets. He goes through the circuit 4-8 times nonstop depepnding on the day. When he does it 8 times he is lfting for 36 min str8.
Good news. And good job getting him in shape. Toney's gonna be in good shape too. Anyways, in the first fight, Rahman was in the best shape I've seen him so far, and it still didn't win him the fight. He outworked Toney, but Toney landed the better, more accurate punches. The draw was just imo. Rahman's skill-level is inferior to Toneys, no question about that. Don't even compare Toney to these sparring partners, Toneys on a whole different level. It doesn't matter if Rahman comes in throwing 900 punches, because an in shape Toney will slip and duck them, and have more opportunities to counterpunch, plus this time he'll be able to go the fast pace for all the 12 rds. Toney UD Rahman.
Thank you for the compliment. Toney does appear to be in good shape as well. As for Toney... yes he is very talented, and smart. But, he gets help in is fights at heavyweight, and he gets it from his opponents. They all go in with the mentality thta James is to small. So they go inside and try to bully him, and thats exactly where James excells. You do not beat him with strength n infighting. You beat him by boxing at long range off the jab. If you box from a distance and use your jab to get in and out you will not get counterpunched. As for the sparring partners... I don't think that comment was warranted. I don't recall saying anyone was better then James. What I do know is they are younger, faster, and of similiar size and style. We are preparing for the best James Toney.
Ok, you didn't compare Toney to the sparring partners, that's true. Rahman spars fighters with the same style and size than Toney, and prepares for the best Toney, like you said, and that's the right thing to do. I understand that Rahman intends to fight Toney on the outside, and keep him at bay with the jab. That's probably the best strategy against Toney, because infight against Toney is crazy. Still, Rahman did a lot of that (jabbing) in the first fight, and Toney still landed his punches. And Toney was horrible in that fight, slow, fat, without balance and timing. I believe we'll see a different Toney this time, more active, landing more, and just doing his thing. Toney is not a one-dimensional counterpuncher, he'll find a way. Rahman doesn't run, and honestly his defense isn't that good (from what I saw in his fights). So if we suppose that Rahman will again do good, like he did in the first fight, but also that Toney will do better than two years ago, then I see Toney winning by UD. Toneys last showings are not to be considered, he's certainly not 'shot', he got beat by himself, but he learned from his mistakes. It's the long lay-off makes me worry more, and I count Toney last real fight to be the Peter rematch - it might prove fatal for his timing. I hope Rahman will deliver a good fight, never had anything against him, and I still think Toney will win by UD - after all, Toney winning against a good Rahman will be better than winning against a faded one. Also, if this turns out to be a good fight, it'll will be positive for both fighters, even if the loser retires. I'll still wish good luck to your man, he's for real. We'll see in two weeks..
He's boxed professionally for 18 years and put on performances that Rahman (and others) could only dream of, meltdowns or no meltdowns. This goes without saying.
Ok, you didn't compare Toney to the sparring partners, that's true. Rahman spars fighters with the same style and size than Toney, and prepares for the best Toney, like you said, and that's the right thing to do. I understand that Rahman intends to fight Toney on the outside, and keep him at bay with the jab. That's probably the best strategy against Toney, because infight against Toney is crazy. Still, Rahman did a lot of that (jabbing) in the first fight, and Toney still landed his punches. And Toney was horrible in that fight, slow, fat, without balance and timing. I believe we'll see a different Toney this time, more active, landing more, and just doing his thing. Toney is not a one-dimensional counterpuncher, he'll find a way. Rahman doesn't run, and honestly his defense isn't that good (from what I saw in his fights). So if we suppose that Rahman will again do good, like he did in the first fight, but also that Toney will do better than two years ago, then I see Toney winning by UD. Toneys last showings are not to be considered, he's certainly not 'shot', he got beat by himself, but he learned from his mistakes. It's the long lay-off makes me worry more, and I count Toney last real fight to be the Peter rematch - it might prove fatal for his timing. I hope Rahman will deliver a good fight, never had anything against him, and I still think Toney will win by UD - after all, Toney winning against a good Rahman will be better than winning against a faded one. Also, if this turns out to be a good fight, it'll will be positive for both fighters, even if the loser retires. I'll still wish good luck to your man, he's for real. We'll see in two weeks..
Like these characters or not but they are still top contenders, Golota a level above though, like it or not.
toney is one of my favorite contemporary boxers, but my instincts say he is basically shot at this point, and if he attempts to get down to 210-220 lbs he is going to be shot and overtrained, like chris byrd in his last fight