For anyone reading this who might be a boxing fan, if you get the West Coast feed of HBO, catch the replay of this fight tonight. This was the Gatti/Ward of 2003, and just mind-boggling how good James Toney looked for someone who I admit I thought he was washed up beyond all hope.
"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it." - Robert E. Lee
I'll second that notion; two guys beating the ever-loving holy hell out of eachother for 12 rounds.
I must question what fight the judges were watching, given the final scores, but wow.
I could have sworn that Toney was totally blown up by round six and that he wouldn't last more than a couple more, but he hung in until the end. And what an ending it was.
tarnish is right. I was upset about the judges, I thought that it could have been a draw. Never have I seen a fight end like that. If the KO didn't happen, the decision should have went the other way. It was a great fight and both Toney and Jirov worked their butts off. I'm up for a rematch, but new judges must be used.
One of the judges was Melvina Lathan. Now I can't say for certain (and I'm too lazy to search) but I believe she was the judge of the Lewis/Holyfield fight who complained that she had a bad view of the fight. So that could give you an idea what sort of judges they had.
"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it." - Robert E. Lee
I wouldn't call it the Gatti/Ward of 2003, but it was a hell of a fight. I had to pull for my man James Toney as he's from my hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan (even though he gets billed as being from Detroit, which I'm guessing is because it's a bit more intimidating than Ann Arbor).
But after the fight, jeez James, give the other guy a little respect. How about a "it was a great fight, and Jirov sure showed a lot of heart" or something? You didn't knock him out in the third or anything, which is how you acted.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think I was going to talk about 'man on dog' with a United States senator. It's sort of freaking me out."
Associated Press interview with Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), 04-07-2003.
I think Toney was so adrenalized and his brain was so knocked around at the end of the fight that its hard to criticize his behavior. The guy was obviously not all there when talking to Lampley, and indeed his insane rambling interview was on a par with some of Tyson's more unfocused efforts. Besides, anything that gives Jirov more incentive to beat some respect out of him in the inevitable rematch is a good thing ;)
"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it." - Robert E. Lee
spf2119 said: I think Toney was so adrenalized and his brain was so knocked around at the end of the fight that its hard to criticize his behavior. The guy was obviously not all there when talking to Lampley, and indeed his insane rambling interview was on a par with some of Tyson's more unfocused efforts.
I dunno, but I'm pretty sure that's just James Toney. Checkout the pre-fight features on Toney at espn.com; he's had a king-sized mouth on him for years and he's never been afraid of using it.
This time he managed to back it all up in the ring against a world-class opponent, so I think he was taking the opportunity to shoot off that much more. I don't think I was the only person watching the fight who was pretty shocked that Toney went 12, let alone 12 gruelling rounds against a guy who wouldn't stop coming, wouldn't stop swinging, round after round after round. He did what plenty of people said he couldn't; the post-fight interview was his F-you. Lampley looked singularly unimpressed
On a somewhat related note, both fighters have expressed an interest in fighting Roy Jones. Won't happen, but if it did, Jones eats them both for lunch.
On a somewhat related note, both fighters have expressed an interest in fighting Roy Jones. Won't happen, but if it did, Jones eats them both for lunch.
This is why Vince McMahon should run boxing. Three-way dance!
Or, given his past record, maybe McMahon and boxing don't mix...at any rate, he can't be worse than Don King.
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Really, if they told you that SARS was being pumped through the ventilation system into every theatre in which this was being shown, would you be any less likely to go see it?-- review of 'Daddy Day Care' at fametracker.com
Originally posted by Chico Santanatarnish is right. I was upset about the judges, I thought that it could have been a draw. Never have I seen a fight end like that. If the KO didn't happen, the decision should have went the other way. It was a great fight and both Toney and Jirov worked their butts off. I'm up for a rematch, but new judges must be used.
Don't know what fight you were watching, but I had Toney winning easily...he landed over a hundred more punches, for crying out loud. That said, Jirov fought well but could have been better had he listened to his corner/ But he didn't and he lost. A rematch would be fun.
George Washington gave his signature The Government gave its hand They said for now and ever more that this was Indian Land
"As long as the moon shall rise" "As long as the rivers flow" "As long as the sun will shine" "As long as the grass shall grow"
Ummmmmm, just because he had more punches landed doesn't mean it's a win. Is the effect that counts. Toney did alot of leaning against the ropes and should not have won if he didn't get the knockout. Plus the announce team even said the same thing as I was thinking. It was a close fight and if you think Toney should have six points more on a score card like the judges did I would suggest having your vision checked.
More like four points, but it was still a fairly good difference. I take into account the effect of the punches as well. If you count the aggressiveness more, well, thats your style. Toney veteraned his way to a decision, doing the most damage.
A rematch might come out differently. Our differing opinions show what a fight it really was.
George Washington gave his signature The Government gave its hand They said for now and ever more that this was Indian Land
"As long as the moon shall rise" "As long as the rivers flow" "As long as the sun will shine" "As long as the grass shall grow"
I have to agree with the final decision, especially with Jirov's low-blow penalty and the knockdown in the 12th. But 117-109 as a score for that fight is ludicrous.
In a rematch, I think we see Jirov pummel the body a little more; if he had kept up the body work past the sixth in this fight, he might have put Toney down. That said, he stopped going to the body because Toney started to make him pay everytime he went low (starting with the shot that bloodied his nose in the 4th). Jirov would have to get a lot more head movement going to have a real chance in a second fight.
I'd love to see Toney/Bird, but there's no real motivation (read: big money) for either and it could easily be a boring fight, given that both men are natural counterpunchers. Toney/Jones is much more compelling, but I don't make it close; Toney's slick, but Jones is incredible. And I don't think Toney has quite as much power as he'd need to hurt Jones and keep him hurt.
Boxing is one off the hardest sports to judge, the thing that really counts is if a fight is good or would the fans pay to see a fighter in another fight. Jirov/Toney was a great fight, better than we get from alot of other fights. I would love to see a rematch, IMHO I don't think Toney or Jirov vs. Jones would be good, but I'd watch. I still want Jones vs. Hopkins, I think that could be a real fun fight to watch and will have a $h!t load of hype around it.
PS I think Toney was jawing at someone in the crowd(some other fighter?) when Lampley was talking to him.
I don’t think Jones/Toney would be any good. I mean they already did it a few years ago when Toney was much closer to his prime and Jones just owned him. Same with Jones vs. Hopkins and Jones fought that one with only one hand.
The money fight has got to be Jones vs. Tyson. Hmm, Don King seemed awfully close to Jones during the Ruiz build-up and King IS trying to get back with Tyson. Could the $100 million fight be on the horizon?
I think Toney was challenging Chris Byrd during the interview.
Originally posted by Chico Santana IMHO I don't think Toney or Jirov vs. Jones would be good, but I'd watch. I still want Jones vs. Hopkins, I think that could be a real fun fight to watch and will have a $h!t load of hype around it.
PS I think Toney was jawing at someone in the crowd(some other fighter?) when Lampley was talking to him.
Toney-v-Jones was pretty fun. Toney tried to showboat with Jones, and Jones caught him.
As the days go by, we face the increasing inevitability that we are alone in a godless, uninhabited, hostile and meaningless universe. Still, you've got to laugh, haven't you?
Ah, yes... the Newton factor. He's a good guy; but I'd rather have Marc Summers host, IMODO. Whammy's unwatchable not only because of Newton -- there's *way* too many prizes, and the Whammys aren't as, well, cool as the older ones. :)