Boxing Results: Toney, Guinn, Byrd and Williamson

ByBoxing Press

TONEY DEFENDS CROWN WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER GUINN, BYRD RETAINS TITLE WITH 12-ROUND DECISION OVER WILLIAMSON ON A SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING DOUBLEHEADER
FROM RENO EVENTS CENTER, RENO, NEVADA
Exciting Bouts Will Be Replayed On SHO2 On Tuesday, Oct. 4, At 11 PM ET/PT

In a pair of workmanlike performances, heavyweights James Toney and Chris Byrd retained their respective titles with 12-round unanimous decisions Saturday on SHOWTIME. Toney overpowered Dominick Guinn to defend his International Boxing Association (IBA) championship, while Byrd did just enough to defeat DaVarryl Williamson and retain his International Boxing Federation (IBF) crown for the fourth time.

Gary Shaw Productions, in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions and Don King Productions, promoted the event from the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nev. SHOWTIME aired both bouts at 9:15 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

Toney (69-4-2, 43 KOs), of Grand Rapids, Mich., controlled the action from the outset and consistently landed punishing overhand rights to his opponent’s head. Despite not scoring a knockdown, “Lights Out” pitched a near shutout as two of the judges gave only one round to Guinn (119-109). The other judge scored it 117-111. Numerous times during the contest, Toney landed a punch and then fired verbal exchanges toward Guinn’s trainer, Joe Goossen.

“I give myself a B minus,” Toney said after the bout. “My right hand is a little sluggish. You have not seen the best of me. I want to fight again next month.”

Toney made his first start since he fought for the World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight crown on April 30, 2005, in New York. The three-time world titleholder easily outpointed defending champion John Ruiz to take the title, but the bout was later ruled a no-decision when Toney tested positive for a banned substance.

Guinn (25-3-1, 18 KOs), of Hot Springs, Ark., appeared content to back Toney into the ropes throughout, but could not score enough to gain his first victory in 14 months. Since winning his final 2003 outing, Guinn has defeated just one out of his past five opponents (1-3-1). The hard-hitting heavyweight emerged as a force to be reckoned with on June 7, 2003, when floored former title contender Michael Grant four times en route to a seventh-round TKO from New York.

Byrd (39-2-1, 20 KOs), of Flint, Mich., ran his unbeaten streak to nine (8-0-1), but was unable to win over the crowd. In a contest devoid of any sustained action, referee Vic Drakulich warned both fighters in both the second and fourth rounds to pick up the pace. Byrd gained the nod by the scores 115-113 and 116-112 twice.

“People do not realize how hard Williamson punches,” Byrd said in defense of his showing. “He had a great game plan. He has great height and reach. I just cannot run out there and hit Williamson because he hits too hard. Everyone has bad fights. I have tried to put on a better performance in my last couple of fights. But, I am just a counter puncher, and Williamson just sticks and moves.”

Byrd captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title on April 1, 2000, with a ninth-round TKO over Vitali Klitschko in Berlin, Germany. Since he regained the crown in 2002, Byrd has defeated Fres Qquendo, Jameel McCline and Williamson in title defenses. In the other defense, Byrd fought to a 12-round draw against Andrew Golota on April 17, 2004.

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Williamson (22-4, 18 KOs), of Washington D.C., saw his two-bout winning streak come to an end despite extending Byrd to go the distance. In his last outing, Williamson scored two knockdowns en route to registering an exciting second-round TKO over Derrick Jefferson on April 30, 2005, in New York

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein called the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins, Jr. producing and Bob Dunphy directing.

For information on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecasts, including complete fighter bios and records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at https://www.sho.com/boxing.