When we first heard that these two "veterans" (we're being nice) singed up for a heavyweight bout, we were very skeptical (see favorite article; Toney and Rahman Are Still Fighting?). And not to say that we have changed our minds, but after hearing some buzz about the training camps and seeing the weigh in results, the fight just became a little bit more interesting (a little bit...).
The last couple of times we saw James Toney (70-6 -3, 43 Ko's) in the ring he was looking (how do we put this lightly..) not healthy. He tipped the scales at over 250 lbs, was grossly out of shape and resembled Grimace, Ronald McDonald's obese purple buddy or the pleasantly plump alien Earl, from Sega's Toe Jam and Earl (the one eating the hotdog; whichever, he was a big boy).
However, there have been rumors floating around that Toney has been taking this fight as seriously as he did back when he was the middleweight champion of the world (16 years and 100 lbs ago). And it would seem that the rumors are true.
James Toney stepped up to the scale looking fit and ready, weighing in at 226 lbs. His opponent Hasim Raham (45-6-2, Ko's 36), tipped in at 244 lbs.
The fact that Toney looks like he is taking the fight more seriously is what makes it instantly more interesting. Although the winner of this match-up doesn't deserve a title shot (as previously stated by the promoters), there is a very slight chance we could be in for a good fight.
We are still talking about two of the better fighters in the past 15 years. Toney has won a title in every division on his journey up from middlweight to heavyweight and was named 2003 "Fighter of Year". Standing across from him will be one of the few men who can say they took down the last outstanding heavyweight champ, Lennox Lewis. And they both will be fighting as if it were their last fight (because it probably is).
If these guys are as serious as they claim, this fight has the chance to be a diamond in the rough in the heavyweight division. In the same breath, it could be as boring as (if not worse) than the Klitschko fight. We have to keep in mind that we are still watching heavyweights, both past the age of 35 and both semi-washed up with one foot out the door (and into a Coldstone Creamery for Toney).
The fight will be broadcast live from Temecula, CA on FSN tomorrow night (wed.) at 11:00 pm EST
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