well asero was perfectly right, looks like the Toney-Lyakhovich fight is on after all, read it on the front page!
I was actually planning to go to his last fight in the Morongo Resort, Cabazon, but couldnt make it in the end. Did anyone on here go to that bill or hear how Toney fought?
Courtesy boxrec: In an exciting heavyweight bout that could have gone either way by the scorecards, three time world champion James Toney won the IBA and WBO NABO Heavyweight Titles by a 12 round split decision over former heavyweight title challenger Fres Oquendo. Toney spent the entire bout setting a slow pace, throwing power punches, while Oquendo spent the bout landing frequent jabs, making the bout close and hard to score. Toney staggered Oquendo with a left hook early in round one, and appeared to win the first three rounds. Oquendo appeared to get the best of rounds 4 through 7, but the rounds were close. Toney appeared to win rounds 8 and 9, while rounds 10, 11 and 12 appeared even. However, Oquendo spent the entire bout hitting Toney with right hooks off the break, and hitting Toney behind the head when Toney was bent over. In what must be the most bizarre moment in professional boxing in 2008, in round 4, Oquendo pushed Toney towards the ring ropes during a clinch, and Toney slipped on one of the mat advertisements on the ring floor and rolled out of the ring! He immediately climbed back into the ring uninjured and the action resumed. After warnings, Referee Dr. Lou Moret finally took a point away from Oquendo in round 8 for rabbit punching. The one point penalty proved costly, as it not only cost Oquendo a round he was winning, but ultimately cost him the fight. Toney fought a clean bout. As the scores were announced, Toney knelt in his corner in prayer for 'one more chance' at the heavyweight title. Versus blows report: Oquendo 222/740 30%, Toney 154/491 31%. Data Boxing reported that in the moderate 113 Events Per Round (Attempts + Controls) Oquendo dominated 59 to 41%. Toney led in controls 70 to 56, with a 25 to 18 edge in moving in.
The fight wasn't exciting, it was boring to watch. Toney gave us a very disappointing performance, while Oquendo... well he was his old horrible self. Toney didn't look good, but nobody looks good against Oquendo, who performs anti-boxing - he runs and holds and fights dirty, that's basically it (ask Chris Byrd or Evander Holyfield about it). I agree the fight could've gone either way, I had Toney up by 1 point because Oquendo rightfully got deducted a point for frequent rabbit punching. A friend of mine who watched the fight with me had Oquendo up by 1 point. Very close fight. Oquendo was more active, but he didn't land anything other than some sloppy jabs and rabbit punches while holding. Toney did land few but clean shots, and he had Oquendo hurt in the first round. Those people who claim that Oquendo got robbed and should have won by a wide margin don't know how to score fights - I do value quality over quantity of punches, plus hitting the shoulders and arms doesn't count in my book. And punch stats don't mean ****. That's why there are judges scoring boxing fights, and not computers.