In the co-featured bout to Sam Peter vs. James Toney 2 last night in Florida, ex-WBA Light Middleweight Champion Travis Simms got a stoppage win over the reigning WBA Champion, the very tough Jose Antonio Rivera.

The bout must have seemed like the third ring of hell for the champion. Simms would thoroughly outbox, outclass, and out punch the always hardnosed Rivera. Utilizing excellent footwork and ring generalship, not to mention a laser guided straight left that could not miss, Simms beat Rivera from pillar to post.

In the second round, blood would begin to trickle down from the nose of Rivera, no doubt caused by the thudding lefts that seemed to reach their mark as if magnetized to him. Rivera was also ruled down in the same round as Simms looked to take it to the champion.

In the ninth, Rivera was down again and it looked as if he wanted to stay down but his pride would not allow him to be counted out and he rose valiantly before the count of 10. It was of little difference as Simms jumped all over the weak and bloodied Rivera, prompting referee Frank Santore to call a halt to the bout at 2:00 into the ninth.

The win is of sweet redemption for Simms as he was coming of a two year layoff due to what he describes as ongoing litigation with one of the alphabet organizations “I’m usually not known as a power puncher,” Simms said. “I’m a stick and move guy, but I proved I got power tonight.”

Click to read more boxing articles by Sean A. Malone

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Travis Simms trains in Columbia, S.C. for his fight with WBA 154lb Boxing Champion Jose Antonio Rivera

  Travis Simms, along with WBA #1 Middleweight Contender Randy Griffin, have been in Columbia, South Carolina, since Thanksgiving training for their upcoming fights. Simms has strong ties to South Carolina >
  
  

• “Ice” John Scully Has High Hopes For WBA Boxing Champ Jose Rivera

  WBA junior middleweight champion Jose Antonio Rivera (38-4-1, 24 KO's) is not interested in taking the easy road, and his upcoming defence against unbeaten Travis Simms (24-0, 18 KO's) is >
  
  

• Boxing Weigh-In: Travis Simms - Joachim Alcine

  The weights are in for Travis Simms' manadatory WBA Super Welter defense against mandatory challenger Joachim Alcine taking place tonight on a Don King Promotion at the Harbour Yard Arena >
  
  

• Jose Antonio Rivera Training Camp Notes

  World Boxing Association light middleweight champion "El Gallo" Jose Antonio Rivera broke his New England-based training camp today and headed south for final preparations leading up to his January 6 >
  
  

• Jose Antonio Rivera relishes grand boxing stage to fight hot dog Simms

  World Boxing Association light middleweight champion "El Gallo" Jose Antonio Rivera hopes to eliminate the phrase "boxing's best-kept secret" from his portfolio with an impressive performance January 6 on Showtime >
  
  

• Boxing Info: James Toney - Sam Peter

  To accommodate sports fans tuning into the NFL Wildcard game on NBC, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, SHOWTIME has pushed back its SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast one hour. The new start >
  
  

• WBA 154 lb Boxing Champ Jose Rivera Added To Toney - Peter Card

  Don King is making the biggest boxing match ever staged in Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Saturday, Jan. 6 an even more star-studded >
  
  

• Post Fight Boxing Quotes: Sam Peter - James Toney II

  Quotes from both the Sam Peter vs. James Toney 2 contest and also Travis Sims vs. Jose Antonio Rivera Samuel Peter: “You saw what I did tonight,” Peter said. >
  
  

• Boxing Quotes: Sam Peter, James Toney, Jose Antonio Rivera, Travis Simms

  

  Click for larger image © Tom Casino / Showtime Boxing At Tuesday’s press conference formally announcing Peter vs. >
  
  

• WBA Boxing Champion Travis Simms Works Out For Media

  

  Click for larger image © Ed Keenan/EMC Unbeaten local fan favorite "Tremendous" Travis Simms participated in an >
  
  

---