James Toney wins a controversial third-round TKO over Hasim Rahman in Temecula, CA. tonight. The referee and officials decided that Rahman retired after the third round because of a cut over Rahman's left eye. The win gains Toney the NABO Heavyweight Championship.
In the second round, the heads of both men collided and the cut grew over Rahman's left eye. The head butt apparently affected Rahman's vision and he seemed to tell the ringside physician that he couldn't see clearly. The doctor immediately stopped the bout.
With the loss, Rahman's record is now 45-7-2, 36 KO's while Toney is now 71-6-3, 44 KO's.
My Personal View: What we saw was an accidental headbutt and since the bout did not go the required four rounds to go to the scorecards, the bout should have been declared a no-decision. This decision should be overturned immediately.
In January of last year, I put a poll question on whether instant replay should be used in pro boxing. 65 percent of you thought it should. This bout was exhibit A on why it should be used. The California State Athletic Commission did not officially rule that an accidental headbutt caused the cut. All they would have been able to do was go to the instant replay that would have obviously shown the headbutt.
According to the Fox Sports Net announcing team of Barry Tompkins and Rich Marotta, both the referee and the doctor said the bout should have declared a no decision. If that is truly the case, then someone on the Commission screwed up big time and there are serious grounds for a Rahman protest.
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11 comments:
i agree that it was a headbut but rahman clearly stated that he did not want to fight any longer. he actually quit on his stool.
amen. he can whine and he can bitch, but he quit. and now mr. rahman, its time to go, far far away. and when you retire, stay in las vegas.
Thats not the case. They ruled it an accidental headbutt, but the cut wasn't deemed severe enough for the fight to be stopped. Rahman quit. Therefore its a tko loss.
Digital,
Love your site, got to disagree with you on this one. Rock wanted out of that fight. That right hand shook him up and he was going to get stopped and he knew it. Yes it was a headbutt, and yes the cut was pretty bad. Rock should have let the doctor examine him first. It was Rock that told the Dr. that he couldn't see prior to the Doc even asking. He wanted out of that fight.
Rahman told the doctor at ringside he couldn't see -- i.e. couldn't go on. The doctor then waved it over, as if it were his recommendation, in advice to the referee. The doctor took an activist position, when he should not have. If Rahman had told him, "I'm ok to fight," the doctor would not have waved to the ref. The doctor should have allowed Rahman to quit on his stool without a ruling. Since he did not, and advised the ref the fighter could not continue, the fight should be declared a no-contest according to the rules. Bottom lines: The TKO should be overturned and declared a NC. The doctor acted improperly. Rahman quit. -- John Scheinman
Rahman said he could not see out the eye. He said his vision was blurry. He never said he quit. The doctor only makes a medical evaluation. If in fact he did not think the cut was bad enough to stop the fight then you say it's okay. Now in defense of the doctor they look at their malpractice insurance. If Rahman had said he was hurt and couldn't see then had a severe injury he would have a lawsuit.
If a fighter cannot continue due to an accidental foul, that fighter loses.
Those are the rules, Jon Scheinman. Get with the program.
Gary G., I was under the impression that if a fighter cannot continue because of an accidental foul INSIDE FOUR ROUNDS, then the fight is ruled no-contest. If I'm wrong about that, I stand corrected and apologize. If I'm right, however, I will be happy to tell you to get with the program! Digital, can you clarify, please?
The Associated Press has reported that the fight was stopped and ruled a TKO because Rahman said he could not continue. If "quit" is too harsh a term, I will gladly say he "retired in his corner." - J.S.
He never siad he quit. He clearly said he could not see. The reson why he could not see was because of an accidental foul. Should be a no contest. Agree that he passively quit as he even admitted, I was not going to fight him in his backyard, under his promotional banner with one eye. But the official ruling of the bout should be no contest because the fighter could not continue as a result of an accidental foul before the end of the forth round.
Agreed -- J.S.
JS is right in this one. but if the bout took place in Maryland it would be declared a Technical Draw, which is also BS. Maryland needs to adopt the No Contest ruling in situations like this. Nicklows-Birkshire draw is a perfect situation, a head-butt occurred in the first minute and the bout was declared a technical draw.
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