TalkingBoxing News
Toney's Promoter Cries Foul
SAT March 25 - The promoter for heavyweight boxer James Toney said Thursday he had filed a written protest with the World Boxing Council in an effort to gain a rematch with world champion Hasim Rahman, whom he accused of landing illegal punches during a 12-round draw last Saturday in Atlantic City, N.J. The result allowed Rahman to retain the WBC belt he inherited last fall.
Dan Goossen said replays show Rahman landed more than 200 illegal blows, primarily to Toney's left kidney area. According to statistics from the fight, Rahman threw 300 more punches than Toney, but landed only 16 more.
Goossen said the kidney shots took a physical toll on Toney, 37, who has since been diagnosed with "inflammation and traumatization" to the left kidney. Goossen also said that he believes many of the blows were scored as legal punches, enabling Rahman to win enough rounds to retain the title.
"The doctors have told me it was astonishing that he was able to go 12 rounds with the exorbitant amount of shots to the kidneys," Goossen said. "What do the refs say before every fight? 'No hitting below the belt, no rabbit punches and no kidney punches.' "
Rahman, 33, was warned in the 10th round by referee Eddie Cotton for punching Toney in the lower back while in a clinch. Bob Arum, Rahman's promoter, said any protest should have been lodged during the fight.
"After a football game is played you don't argue that someone stepped out of bounds," Arum said. "The game is over, it's finished."
Dan Arritt
Los Angeles Times
Malignaggi's Legacy Begins Vs Cotto
SAT March 25 -
An avid New York Yankees fan, Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (21-0, 5 KOs), has returned to the heart of Boston Red Sox country to train once again with famed strength-and-conditioning coach, Mike Boyle, in preparation for Malignaggi’s breakthrough June 10th mega-fight against World Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (26-0, 22 KOs) at Madison Square Garden.
Malignaggi’s manager, Sal LoNano, first brought Paulie to Massachusetts a year ago to follow the path of his former fighter, “Irish” Micky Ward, who trained under Boyle for his trilogy against Arturo Gatti. Malignaggi has won two straight fights since then against a pair of 16-1 fighters when they entered the ring against him, Jeremy Yelton (DEC8) and Donald Camarena (DEC10) for the WBC Continental Americas light welterweight championship. The latter set-up the aforementioned June 10 showdown for the now WBO No. 10 rated Malignaggi against Cotto.
“I’m going to cash in on this opportunity; my legacy begins by beating Cotto for the WBO title,” the outspoken Malignaggi said. “I just don’t want to be the next great Italian fighter, I want to be the next great fighter in the world. I’ve been under a microscope and ‘dissed’ by people, but I’m going to prove my detractors wrong.
“Cotto’s coming to my house. He’s going to find himself unwelcome with nothing there for him except knuckle sandwiches from me. I’m a fresh 21-0 without being in any wars. Cotto’s a worn-out 26-0 with a lot of mileage on him. I’m going to make him 26-1. (Ricardo) Torres put him down and (Chop Chop) Corley had him going. Cotto needed some hometown help from the ref to beat Corley.”
Brooklyn-native Malignaggi, who’ll return next month to Gleason’s Gym (NYC) for a solid month of training and sparring, right now is close to his hand doctor, Dr. Stephen Margles, the Burlijngton, Mass.-surgeon who also repaired Ward’s fist, as well as Vinny Paz’, Harry Simon’s and others boxers. Paulie’s thrice operated- on right hand, according to him, feels 100-percent for the first time since his third pro fight.
“Miguel Cotto is a one dimensional fighter and anybody who thinks he can box lives in dreamland,” Paulie continued. “I’m going to expose his slow feet and hands. No surprises with him, he’s going to keep coming forward, but he’s had problems making weight and staying strong as rounds go by. I’m going to take him into deep waters. Cotto’s going to have to answer some questions about his poise. How is he going to react when I’m two inches away from him and then the next second I’m gone? This is a big fight and coming from Brooklyn, fighting at Madison Square Garden is very special for me. My legacy starts June 10 when I have the WBO belt around my waist. I’m only 25 and this is just the beginning for me.”
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