01.10.05 – By Izyaslav “Slava” Koza: The two fights shown on Showtime tonight were really mirror images of each other, in that one was a fan’s tactical delight, and one was a fan’s tactical nightmare. Both results of, UD wins for Byrd and Toney (Photo: Tom Casino /Showtime), were pretty much as expected, and that is a good in the end from the standpoint that we need heavyweights that are dependable, and Byrd and Toney are it. If Williamson and Guinn were somehow to win, that would really be detrimental to the heavyweight picture, because fans would be reluctant to drop Byrd and Toney as top guys but would have to give props to their conquerors and thus create even more contenders. Thankfully, that did not happen tonight, and hopefully these two will meet in the future.
Chris Byrd vs. Davaryl Williamson
Although the result was as expected and as I imagine desired by most fans, the actual fight was terribly boring and uneventful.)
Just about the only excitement we had would involved a handful of punches I can list on my right hand, and 2 verbal warnings from referee Vic Drakulich to stop posing and fight (which was met with more approval from the crowd then any point in the action). Both fighters were content to leave this fight at sparring match mode, and didn’t really have anything to protest about when the crowd booed them continuously.
Even though I have been hard on Chris Byrd over the past couple of months, I can’t really fault him for this performance because of his low purse earnings. See if we look at this from his point of view and then compare it to our own jobs and lives its easy to see where Byrd is coming from as a professional boxer.
Lets assume a worker is making 20 dollars an hour over the course of say five, six, years at his current job. Tommorow his boss comes in and tells him he will only be making five an hour and with no other options its quit or keep working. Will we really expect this hypothetical working person to put in as much effort for a fraction of what he made before? I have a hard time believing it.
It’s a question of motivation and from that standpoint I can understand the lackluster performance on Byrd’s part. We may not agree with whether or not he deserves those millions but if he does, and he doesn’t get them, don’t expect him to put the same number on Williamson that he put on Tua.
Is it his fault he refused the Klitschko fight? From the information that was available I would say so, but even so, you can’t fault the guy, for performing bad in a fight he knew he wouldn’t get paid as much in. On the other hand if he wants to earn those big bucks he does what a guy like Sam Solimon does and fights his heart out just to prove that he is worth the fan’s money, but I guess it is just hard to do it with a belt around his waist. Also lets remember this, Byrd is one of the few guys like it or not, who doesn’t trash talk, doesn’t belittle his opponents, and has had relatively few problems outside the ring. Its really hard for a guy who only brings boxing skill to the table to bring in as much money as say Toney, or Peter.
As far as his opponent goes, well Byrd can call Guinn a tune up but really Williamson wasn’t much better. Byrd praised him as Byrd does to all his opponents, which may sound phony but in reality is how I would expect a true religious person to behave (and that is not sarcasm they are very polite and humble people).
Ever since Touch of Sleep got put to Sleep by Joe Mesi he has been a terribly cautious fighter. He and his team may call it, patience, smarts, whatever, but from my couch looking at it, its nothing more then just making sure you don’t get caught big and running around hoping to get lucky. Going back to his recent fight with Klitschko that is why I was skeptical about his whole big strategy about waiting Klitschko out. The man fought the same exact way against Byrd and really is only looking for the one big counter, and if he can’t find it will be content to lose a unanimous decision. He waited on Byrd the whole night, and Byrd who as the champ gets the benefit of the doubt in a championship fight, and is the better counter puncher, doesn’t have to do much but pop a few flurries and scare Williamson half to death. Even as his trainer told Williamson that he needed the knock out going into the last round nothing but two early uppercuts (a punch he was too scared to throw for the first eleven rounds) changed anything in the twelfth round either.
Toney vs Guinn
James Toney didn’t fail to dissapoint as expected, and I am glad for him. Yes this was a tune up, and yes we expected him to win but you still enjoy his presence in a fight. Everything from that awe inspiring 70+ fight record, talking about experience, to his smug indifference to the pre fight touching of the gloves, just oozes the notion that this man is a fighter. This man is somebody who will make you glad you bought a ticket.
In the beginning of the fight, at least maybe for the first two rounds, it was really clear that Dominick Guinn has all the natural talent in the world. The kid is no worse then anybody else when it comes to handspeed, footspeed, or any single technical aspect of his character. His problem is his mentality. He started the fight great and at a distance where he had some semblance of a chance, but once the old “Mongoose” hit him a few times, Guinn folded and took the fight inside. As early as the third round any real fight fan could have asked themselves “what the hell Guinn was doing standing in a phone booth with Toney,” but the truth is Guinn is too timid and too mindful to assert himself.
That is why he was chosen as an opponent, yes he has speed, and good technical skills, but he can be manipulated, to put him in against Toney is like throwing him to the wolves, because James Toney is probably the single best inside fighter in boxing today.
Toney’s punching is just unbelievably perfect, in that it doesn’t give opponents much of a chance to clinch. Toney keeps his elbows tucked very close to his body, so that a fighter can’t really hook any part of Toney’s arm and tie him up. With that sort of tight armed defense, an opponent can only stand in the pocket and try to trade, which is really where Toney’s arm punching hand speed, is off the charts better. Add to that his elusive head movement, the shoulder roll, and his demeanor even when getting hit, and I am confident that any fighter that stands in with Toney in the pocket like that will lose a decision.
Guinn’s trainer, Joe Goosen, knew this, and told his fighter to keep his distance rather then stay inside, but Toney had a plan for this contingency as well. Toney doesn’t allow fighters to breath once they try to break apart from him. He follows them around before they can get back enough energy to fire the jab, and forces them back into the phone booth. Its very difficult to describe this but its almost effortless to watch, and against a tailor made guy like Guinn well, it was even nicer although as stated with a grain of salt.
The real issue will be when he has to face a fighter like Vitali Klitschko who is taller but doesn’t give up his height at all. Vitali likes that distance, he stands up full height, and moves well enough to perhaps bother Toney. I would hate to make a prediction for that fight as I don’t know which fighter’s style will bother which, but predictions aside that is the fight I would love to see. I think Toney would pretty much have his way with most other heavyweights out there, including recent winners Wladimir Klitschko and Nicolai Valuev. Although I would be cheering for these guys if the fights were to happen, barring some major style changes Toney is too experienced, in my opinion, for them and most of the heavyweight division. That view could change if the fights were made, and remember Guinn was like a perfectly cut Italian suit made to order specifically for Toney, but its hard to fault or deny Toney’s ability tonight.
Also a big by the way, applause and kudos, for Toney and Guinn continuing the show 10 seconds after the bell sounded to end the fight. I couldn’t believe they were still going at it after the bell had rung, and Nady who is usually on top of things standing there and allowing them to trade on the ropes. Enjoy that huge Cigar James Toney because you’ve earned it.
Photo: Tom Casino /Showtime