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Heavyweight contender James ‘Light’s Out’ Toney was robbed of victory last weekend in his WBC heavyweight elimination bout with Samuel ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Peter, claims his opinionated promoter Dan Goosen.
After swapping blows for 12 brisk rounds this past Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, it appeared to most observers that Toney, 38, had done enough to prevail on points. However, in a fight that featured a lot of close, punishing rounds, it was his younger opponent who somewhat contentiously walked away with the victory – albeit via split decision.
Though many at ringside felt that Toney should have been received the verdict, and that includes the overwhelming majority of press row, Peter, 26, was a wide winner on two scorecards and is now in line to face newly crowned WBC champion Oleg Maskaev, probably in November.
Toney, meanwhile, has not only seen his nine year unbeaten streak go up in smoke but will presumably now have to work his way back into contention, which inevitably means another high risk, low reward outing or two in order to climb back up the ratings. For the time being at least, it is likely that he will remain on the outside looking in, his nose pressed against the glass.
In a recent interview, Goosen not only voiced his displeasure with the decision but explained why he believes Team Peter should in all good conscience grant his fighter an immediate rematch before moving on to Maskaev or anyone else.
He argued: “The post fight press conference was one of the rowdiest press conferences I’ve ever been involved in. The media seemed very upset at the decision and the result going to Peter, and directed very pointed objections to it with the Peter camp.
“At one point they even got boisterous with the option of seeing a Maskaev-Peter bout or an immediate Toney-Peter rematch. It was obvious they wanted to see the rematch, not even close.
“Whether you love James Toney or not, boxing fans and especially the media want justice to be served in the boxing ring and not in the process. James Toney fought a masterful fight Saturday and almost unanimously everyone believed he deserved the hard earned victory, except two judges. Justice must be served.”
It is unlikely, however, that Toney will receive a rematch this year. Something that Peter’s promoter, Dino Duva, has endeavoured to make unmistakably clear in the days since the fight.
“Samuel won the fight,” said Duva after being informed of the Toney camp’s decision to file a protest demanding an immediate rematch. “James fought great but Samuel won. Just because you lose doesn’t mean you can protest. What are they going to protest that Samuel was the winner? That he was a better fighter than they thought?
“Someday after Samuel Peter wins the title fighting James Toney again is a viable option that we would look to explore. But right now all we’ve got our minds on is fighting for the championship and we’ve earned that right by defeating a great heavyweight in James Toney.”
Goosen, though, is not satisfied with that scenario, and will continue campaigning for the rematch that he believes his fighter unequivocally deserves.
“James did not deserve the unjust decision that was handed down to him Saturday night,” he lamented, “and make no mistake about it, the fans would vote that James won the fight and demand an immediate rematch rather than a fight with Peter and Maskaev. Everyone deserves that.”
Courtesy www.frankmaloney.com
