Toney-Rahman: Loser retires!

July 14, 2008

By Francisco Salazar / Photos: Big Joe Miranda

One and done.

At least that is something both James Toney and Hasim Rahman will agree to. The loser of their scheduled heavyweight bout on Wednesday night should no longer be considered a prizefighter and should retire.

The winner will prolong his career in a vulnerable heavyweight division and attempt to challenge one of the title holders.

Both fighters will face off at the Pechanga Resort and Casino on Wednesday night in Temecula, CA in a 12 round bout for the NABO heavyweight title.

The bout will headline an appropriately-headlined "Last Chance" card, presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions, along with Top Rank and Don King Productions. The bout will be televised live on Fox Sports Net's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."

The attention over the weekend on the boxing world was on the bright lights of Hamburg, Germany where IBF and WBO Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko stopped contender Tony Thompson in the 11th round. Now the focus will be at a resort and casino in the Southern California desert where two fighters hope to prolong their careers in a so-called weak division.

For Toney, (70-6-3, 43 KOs) from Sherman Oaks, CA, it has been a long journey since making his professional debut almost 20 years ago and different weight classes.

Although the fighter known as "Lights Out" is not the fighter he was a number of years ago, he has been known to surprise not just the media and boxing insiders, and mostly his opponents.

After winning world titles at Middleweight and Super Middleweight, Toney lost back to back fights to Roy Jones and Montell Griffin, Toney positioned himself back into being a contender at 175 pounds. However, weight issues and disappointing defeats to Griffin again and Drake Thadzi in 1997 brought his career to a standstill.

After ballooning to a then-high of 226 pounds, Toney hooked up with promoter Dan Goossen and won a world title for the third time when he impressively decisioned then-unbeaten Vassily Jirov in 2003.

After making a successful transition to the Heavyweight ranks with a stoppage defeat over Evander Holyfield, Toney would win a minor belt

Unfortunately for Toney, he lost two consecutive bouts at the hands of current WBC Heavyweight champion Samuel Peter.

Rahman, (45-6-2, 36 KOs) from Baltimore, MD, may have less pedigree and accolades than Toney. However, he is a two-time world champion and has won his last four bouts in a row.

After beginning his professional career unbeaten, Rahman suffered knockout defeats at the hands of David Tua and Oleg Maskaev, the latter where he was knocked out of the ring.

After building up his record, Rahman pulled off a major upset by knocking out an unfocused Lennox Lewis in South Africa in 2001. His reign was short-lived as a motivated Lewis came into the rematch prepared, stopping Rahman in the fourth round.

Rahman would go winless in his next three bouts after the Lewis rematch. However, he would win his next five bouts in a row to earn a shot at the vacant WBC title. He would win by unanimous decision over Monte Barrett in 2005.

He would lose the belt to Oleg Maskaev in August of 2006, when he was stopped in the 12 round in an entertaining and close bout.

Both Toney and Rahman are familiar with one another both inside and outside of the ring. Prior to Rahman defending the title a second time against Maskaev, Rahman defended the title against Toney in March of 2006. Both fighters had their moments in bout that ended in a 12 round majority decision draw.

Also on the card will be Francisco Santana facing Alejandro Bogarin in a six round Super Welterweight bout.

Santana, (8-1, 4 KOs) from Santa Barbara, CA, is hoping to rebound from his first professional loss of his career. In a battle of unbeaten fighters, Santana lost a six round split decision to Karim Mayfield in March.

This will be Santana's second consecutive six round bout after beginning his career fighting four round bouts.

Santana hopes to move forward in the professional ranks towards a regional title shot or a reasonable money bout. A recent news report in Santa Barbara showcased Santana in training, having escaped the temptation of drugs and gangs in his hometown.

Bogarin, (8-5-3, 2 KOs) from Ontario, CA, is unbeaten in his last fours. In his last bout, Bogarin scored a four round split decision victory earlier this month over Joel Mills. The bout took place at the famed Playboy Mansion.

After beginning his professional career with two defeats, Bogarin went unbeaten in his next six bouts.

His one strength over Santana would be in the number of fights and rounds that he has fought in. Bogarin has been a professional for over five years and has seven more professional bouts than Santana.

In an attractive four round bout, two unbeaten fighters will square off in Super Bantamweight action. Jonathan Velardez (6-0, 4 KOs) will take on Rico Ramos (4-0, 3 KOs) in a battle of local prospects.

Two more scheduled bouts round out the card.

Tickets are on sale and could be purchased on the day of the fight or by calling the Pechanga Resort and Casino at 1-877-711-2WIN. Tickets are priced at $150, $100, and $50.

Doors are scheduled to open at 4:30PM local time, with first bell scheduled for 5:30PM. Fox Sports Net will begin their telecast at 11PM ET/ 8PM PT.

For more information, go to www.pechanga.com