RSSLive Blogging: Guerrero-Aiken, Toney-Peter
Guerrero vs Aiken
Starting a little late, whoops (been watching since the start though). We’re three rounds into Guerrero-Aiken. Guerrero is definitely landing the better shots so far, but a few of them have been low blows ignored by the ref. To Aiken’s credit, he’s absorbing the shots well so far.
Round 4: Guerrero still landing the better shots, a few hard body shots, although none that rivaled two powerful ones that put Aiken on “pause” like in round 3. Aiken came back at the end of the round, landing some power shots of his own. He’s showing that as long as he’s on his feet, he has a chance in this fight.
Round 5: Outside of a low blow by Aiken this round was all Guerrero. Guerrero’s probably up 5 rounds to 0 on all cards. Guerrero’s starting to go to the head more. Aiken’s looking a little swollen above the right eye.
Round 6: Aiken’s spending more time on the ropes, and throwing fewer punches. While Guerrero’s been dominating the entire fight, this is the first round I’ve started to wonder if Aiken has a shot at winning anymore.
Round 7: One of Guerrero’s gloves is ripped and must be replaced so the start of the round is delayed. The extra time should benefit Aiken. Aiken comes out with a few power punches in the middle of the ring. HDTV reveals duck tape wrapped on some of the ropes. Is this common? Is my television deceiving me? It’s got to be awful brushing up against ropes like that. Someone should ask Eric Aiken, because he’s spending more time leaning on them.
Round 8: Ref takes a point from Aiken for holding. What a joke after the low blows that Guerrero got away with earlier. The Showtime crew, which includes Diego Corrales, agrees. It probably doesn’t matter at this point anyway. Guerrero’s landing a lot of shots. The fight doesn’t seem to be close to being stopped though. Aiken’s corner should consider it. The Showtime crew agrees with that too.
Before round 9 Aiken’s corner asks him if he wants to continue. Aiken says no. Corrales, who seems like he does think the fight should be stopped was critical of Aiken calling it quits himself. He puts it simlply, “you can’t quit.”
Result: Guerrero TKO win
The Ghost looked solid. Outside of a few questionably placed shots, he didn’t look like he could be stopped.
Guerrero speaks will with Jim Gray during the post fight interview. He had some Academy-like thank yous at the end.
Showtime pimps some of their shows in-between fights. If you flipped around, let me point you to Dexter.
Toney vs Peter
Round 1: I’m inspired to finish my cheeseburger. The fight is obviously at a much slower pace than the previous one, but the two don’t stand still. Peters throws a good amount of power shots, many missing. Toney ducks, throws a good amount of jabs, landing a good amount. Fewer body shots than I thought I’d see. Pretty even in general.
Round 2: Toney always appears confident, and he’s fighting that way. The pace picks up at the start of this round, with Toney tossing more punches than before. Toney’s hands are low. Things get a little sloppy at the end of the round. All in all, Toney threw more and landed the better shots this round. Is anyone getting hurt yet? Who can tell.
Round 3: Toney starts out strong, but Peter lands some big shots at the end of the round. Toney snuck in a few counter shots, but Peter might have stolen the round in the last minute. Brings the fight back to even for me.
Round 4: The first couple of minutes are similar to round 1 - power shots thrown by Peter, not landing many, and Toney throwing and landing jabs. The last minute of the round sees Peter throw a nice combo or two. Toney takes the shots, encourages Peter to keep on coming. It can be a sign of getting hurt, but with Toney you can’t be sure.
Round 5: Peter lands some big shots against Toney. Toney probably hasn’t taken a punch like that in a long time. I want to say ever, but he didn’t go down. Peter doesn’t attack enough and lets Toney shake it off. After some time Peter gets in some more power shots. Toney’s still punching at the end of the round and blood is coming out of Peter’s mouth. The round is still easily Peter’s. The judges’ scorecards are shown in the middle of the round and they’re all over the place. It’s 2-1 Peter from the cards and one judge has it heavily for Peter. He must have a different view than the rest of us.
Round 6: Both fighters are visibly tired, Peter more. Toney clearly lands more shots, including a few power shots, although they don’t seem nearly as powerful as Peter’s. A round for Toney, and it’ll be interesting to see who can put more back in the tank for round 7. Half-way over it seems doubtful both fighters can last another 6 rounds.
Round 7: As the action slows, Toney seems to be paying a lot of attention to what’s going on outside the ring. There’s not a lot going on until the end of the round. Peter lands one power shot shortly before the bell, but it’s an uneventful and even round.
Round 8: Someone in between round 6 and 7. Toney starts off strong, Peter usually has the better end, but there wasn’t as much this time around. Even-ish round, maybe an edge to Toney.
Round 9: Cards are shown and Toney’s made a comback. 2-1 Toney and it’s close on all cards. Peter “ear claps” Toney a few times and has a point deducted. That could be huge. These guys are exhausted and hugging frequently. Peter landed more shots throughout the round, but that point brings it back to even.
Round 10: Peter starts stong and ends strong. Toney has the middle of the round, but I’m not so sure if it’s enough to even-up Peter’s landed power shots and I doubt it is for the judges ringside. This one goes to Peter.
Round 11: The best way to describe this round is Peter just didn’t do enough to win it. Toney was more active, not very active, but certainly more than Peter. This might have made the last round a “must KO” situation for Peter.
Round 12: I’m amazed it’s gotten this far. Both think they need a knockout, which is exactly what you want from a round 12. It’s another good, even round, although it’s not as action packed as you’d think from two fighters trying to go for a knockout. Conditioning, from both fighters, certainly came into play here.
I have the fight with a slight edge to Toney, but wouldn’t be surprised by anything from the judges right now.
Result: Samuel Peter by split decision
Peter looks like he’s just won the lottery, and it’s a fitting feeling. The judge for Toney had him winning by 3 points. The judges for Peter had him winning by 5 points. If I may get a little internet on you: OMGWTF. Are you kidding? I can’t get upset about the split decision win, it was a close fight - but the margin of victory on those cards seems very large.
Peter fights Oleg Maskaev next.
After Peter tries to give a congratulatory huge to Toney, he says, “I won this fuckin’ fight”, not that you expected to hear anything different. Toney continues to talk smack.
After the post-fight interviews are done there’s almost a brawl in the ring. Peter is quickly pushed down the aisle and to the lockerroom before anything can really happen.
Judges cards are reshown. 5 point wins for Peter mean that those judges thought Peter won the fight 9 rounds to 3 because of the point deduction, barring any 2-point rounds. The press row cards are shown, they all have the fight a few points for Toney.
I’m not sure what Toney will be next, but I doubt retirement is on his mind.
Features • Live Blogs • Fight Results • Featherweight • Heavyweight • Eric Aiken • James Toney • Robert Guerrero • Samuel Peter
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