Round by Round: Rahman -vs- Toney

By B. "The Hype" Thompson

19/03/2006

Round by Round: Rahman -vs- Toney

Prefight
The challenger, James Toney, enters first with his game face on...Tupac playing in the background. Toney looks dry, but focused and ready to fight. Rahman enters next. He looks amped and ready to go. "LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEE!" Rock looks pissed...Toney looks ready. It's on!

Round 1
There's the bell. They meet at the center of the ring. Toney begins working the jab. Rahman throws some shots to the body. Toney lands a stiff left hook. Another stiff left jab lands for Toney. Rahman lands a nice right hand over the top that backs Toney up. Toney back to the body. Rahman clubs him with a right. Toney seems slower than normal. Rahman sticks the jab twice in Toney's face. Right hand to the body lands for Toney. Rahman staying busy with the jab. right hook on the inside lands for Rahman. Stiff jab lands for Rahman again. Rock pressing behind the jab...clubbing Toney wherever he can. Good body shot lands for Toney. They trade at the end. Good round for Rahman.

Rahman 10 Toney 9

Round 2
Toney is the first off his stool to start the round. Toney works the body....good left hook lands for Toney. Toney getting more active now. Rahman lands a jab...clubs Toney to the body. Stiff left jab lands for Toney. Rahman lands a hook to the body. They clinch. Rahman being physical with Toney. Wooooo...big overhand right over the top just grazes Rahman. Toney against the ropes now and Rahman leans on him. Toney working on the inside...landing some effective uppercuts. Another big overhand right lands for Toney, but Rock is styaing on him. Toney lands a nice flush right hand, but Rahman still coming. An exciting fight right now. Rahman working behind the jab. Toney works the body. Hard left hook to the body lands for Toney. Toney fighting off the ropes effectively. Close round...but I give it to Toney on the strength of his counters.

Rahman 19 Toney 19

Round 3
Rahman staying phyiscal with Toney. Woooooo...big overhand right lands for Toney. Another overhand right lands for Toney. Rahman still coming forward though. Rahman lands a good right over the top. Woooo...another big overhand right lands for Toney. Rock still coming forward and connecting. Woooo...another stiff right hand lands for Toney. Toney is landing some heavy leather. Rock knocks him off balance. Toney talking a little smack now while he takes a break against the ropes. Rahman lands two stiff jabs. Toney lands an uppercut followed by a short hook on the inside. Wooo...hard right hand lands for Toney. Rahman still leaning on him. Toney letting his hands go now. Lands a nice combo....woooooo......they trade left hands. Toney countering effectively, but Rahman is game and he's bringing it. Wooo...another right hand lands for Toney. Rahmand lands one of his own, but Toney just sticks his tongue out. GREAT round for a heavyweight fight. The crowd is on it's feet. Round to Toney.

Rahman 28 Toney 29

Round 4
Rahman works behind the jab. Toney lands an uppcercut on the inside. Right hand lands for Toney. Rahman staying physical....lands a jab. Overhand right lands for Toney again. Rahman clubbing on the body. Toney answers. Hard left hook to the body lands for Rahman. Toney's breathing heavy. Jab, left hook combo lands for Rahman. Rahman more active so far. Hard left hook to the body lands for Toney. They trade on the inside against the ropes. Rahman leaning on Toney....lands a short right cross. Uppercut lands for Rahman. Hard left hook lands for Toney. Quick jab lands for Toney. Better round for Rahman as Toney looked a little gassed.

Rahman 38 Toney 38

Round 5
Both men a little slower off their stools now. Rahman works the jab...keeping Toney at bay. Double jab lands for Rahman. Overhand right lands for Toney...one and done. Right hand over the top lands for Rahman. Toney misses with his own...misses with another one. Rahman staying busy with the jab...keeping Toney off balance. Right hand lands for Toney. They trade jabs. Rahman works the jab. Toney misses with an overhand right. They trade on the inside. Right hand to the body lands for Toney. Round to Rahman...fatigue appears to be setting in for Toney.

Rahman 48 Toney 47

Round 6
Left hook to the body lands for Toney...and a hard right hand lands for Toney. Another quick left hook lands on the inside...Rahman takes it well and lands a jab of his own. They trade on the inside. Toney gets the better of it. More inside trading...Rahman getting the better of it now. They trade along the ropes....Rahman landing some heavy leather against the body. Toney lands some heavy shots to the body himnself. It's getting really rough on the inside now. Rahman clubbing on Toney...Toney firing back. Nice left hook to the body lands for Rahman. Good round for Rahman...wearing the smaller man down.

Rahman 58 Toney 56

Round 7
Toney being a little more active now....working the jab. Hard uppercut lands for Toney. Another nice uppercut lands for Toney, but Rahman stays busy and clubs back on Toney. Left-right lands for Toney. Hard left hook to the body lands for Rahman. Hard left hook lands for Toney. Rahman slowing down a little now. Toney lands a stiff jab...Rahman wails away at Toney's body. Right hand over the top lands for Toney. Rahman looking a little sloppier now....Toney landing more effectively. Round to Toney...but it was close.

Rahman 67 Toney 66

Round 8
Toney firing the jab now. Overhand right lands for Toney. Rahman lands a left-right combo of his own. Toney lands a 3-punch combo, but Rahman still coming forward. Right hand lands for Rahman. Toney talks some smack to him. It's getting ugly in there now....both men sluggin on each other, but Rahman getting the better of it. right hand lands for Toney. Rahman working Toney against the ropes. Hard right cross lands for Toney...and a counter uppercut. Toney lands a left hook flush....Rahman still taking it. The crowd starting to chant for Toney. Toney landing some heavy leather now. Both men trading to end the round. Wow...very close round...very close. Toney was more effective with his punches, but Rahman just kept bringing it. Round to Toney, but it was close.

Rahman 76 Toney 76

Round 9
Hard overhand right lands for Toney. Rahman continues to club at Toney's body. Rahman working the jab. Wooooo...hard 1-2 lands for Toney that has the crowd in awe. Both men work the body...Rahman looks like he's lost a lot of steam on his punches. Hard uppercut lands for Toney. Rahman continues to lean on Toney. Hard left hook to the body lands for Toney as he continues to lean against the ropes. Both men trading on the inside,...Toney landing the more effective shots. Rahman lets his hands go and lands a nice combo. They trade rights. Better round for Rahman who continues to stay active.

Rahman 86 Toney 85

Round 10
Toney waits for Rahman at the center of the ring. Nice three punch combo lands for Toney. Rahman works the jab. Overhand right lands for Toney. Rahman looks fatigued, but still working the jab. Toney works his jab as well. Left hook lands for Toney. Rahman lands the jab. Left hook and an uppercut lands for Toney. Rahman getting frustrated and clubs down on Toney's back...gets a warning from the ref. Toney works the jab and lands an overhand right. Rahman continues to work the body. Another close and tough round to score, but I give it to Rahman for pressing the action.

Rahman 96 Toney 94

Round 11
They trade left hands to start the round. Toney looks like he's pressing the action now...like he knows he needs a knockout. Stiff uppercut lands for Toney. Wooo...hard right hand lands for Toney. Rahman's mouth wide open now. Rahman still working the jab though. Another big overhand right lands for Toney...but one and done isn't enough to win the round. Round to Rahman.

Rahman 106 Toney 103

Round 12
Toney looking for a knockout...Rahman staying active. Overhand right lands for Toney, but Rahman lands one of his own. Both men look tired and sloppy. Rahman staying active and pressig the action....now it's Rahman looking for the knockout. Toney looks content, but it was a more active and motivated Hasim Rahman that took this one. Round to Rahman.

Rahman 116 Toney 112

Wow....a majority draw.

Rahman retains his title.

Official scorecards: 117-111, 114-114, 114-114