|
| Peter on course for WBC title bid |
1/8/2007 |
|
Samuel Peter beat heavyweight rival James Toney for the second time in three months to set up a possible title tilt against WBC champion Oleg Maskaev.
The Nigerian-born Peter was awarded a unanimous points win in Miami, but Toney disagreed with the outcome.
"I taunted him," said Peter, who was ahead on two judges'' cards by scores of 118-110 and other by 119-108.
"I gave him the Muhammad Ali shuffle, and a little Floyd Mayweather, too. This was my best fight."
Peter won a split decision when the boxers last met in Los Angeles on 2 September, only for the WBC to order a rematch.
Peter had the best of the early going, knocking down Toney 20 seconds into the second, although the American claimed he had slipped.
"I didn''t go down," he insisted. "I feel I won the fight, but it''s all good. We''ll fight another fight.
"This guy is supposed to be a hell of a puncher, but he couldn''t knock me out."
Toney looks a beaten man
The 38-year-old Toney had not been on the canvas since he was floored by Roy Jones in 1994.
He was also shaken by Peter again in round 11, with the American just managing to stay on his feet.
Peter was warned twice during the fight for hitting Toney on the back of the head, but was not docked any points.
When the decision was announced, Peter danced around the ring in celebration while Toney, his left eye partially swollen shut, threw up his hands in disgust
Peter, with just one defeat in 28 fights, may now get a chance at the heavyweight belt held by Kazakhstan-born Maskaev, who took the title by knocking Hasim Rahman out in August.
If the fight goes ahead, the winner could be handed a unification bout against IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko, the only person to beat Peter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
