Peter Shuts the Lights Out On Toney

LOS ANGELES, CA - Samuel Peter proved to be James Toney's worst nightmare Saturday on SHOWTIME. In a hard-fought heavyweight brawl that featured excellent exchanges and few clinches, Peter registered a hotly disputed, 12-round split decision over Toney in a World Boxing Council (WBC) elimination bout at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.

In the co-feature, Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero dominated defending champion Eric "Mighty Mouse" Aiken to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) featherweight title. The champion’s corner stopped the fight after the eighth round and the bout was declared a technical knockout.

The Toney-Peter WBC eliminator was presented by Goossen Tutor Promotions, Don King Productions and Duva Boxing. The Guerrero-Aiken championship bout was promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions in association with Art Pellulo's Banner Promotions. Both bouts aired on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

By triumphing 116-111 twice and 112-115, Peter, of Las Vegas, Nev., by way of Akwaibom, Nigeria, becomes the mandatory challenger to WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev. Peter’s biggest victory in the most important fight of his career came four days shy of his 26th birthday.

"I want Oleg," said a jubilant Peter (27-1, 22 KOs), who entered the ring as the WBC No. 3 contender."Toney never hurt me. I am solid like a rock. My game plan was to stick the jab. He picked some off, but it was working all night long. The trash talking before didn't affect me at all."

Toney (69-5-2, 43 KOs), a former three-time world champion of Los Angeles, by way of Grand Rapids, Mich., was incredulous about the decision. "Peter didn’t do (expletive withheld)," said Toney, 38, the WBC No. 2 contender going in. "I'm not done with him. Hey, this is a joke. I didn’t lose the fight. I took everything away from him. "I am not old. I am not fat and out of shape like Larry Holmes. This is not over. We are going to protest."

Guerrero (19-1-1, 12 KOs) of Gilroy, Calif., outclassed and outhustled Aiken and won nearly every round on each of the scorecards in the first world title fight between "ShoBox: The New Generation" alums.

"I was in control the whole time," said Guerrero, who led 80-71 twice and 79-72 when the match was stopped after the eighth round by the referee at the request of Aiken's corner. "To say I am happy would be an understatement. We executed everything we worked on in camp. "I want to fight the best guys. That is what the fans want."

Aiken (16-5, 12 KOs), of Marysville, Ohio, had a two-fight winning streak snapped. The champion made his first IBF defense since scoring a shocking victory over previously unbeaten titleholder Valdemir Pereira on May 13, 2006.

"Everything Guerrero did affected me," Aiken said. "I broke my fight hand. (But) I am not taking anything away from him."

Bobby Roy
West Coast Correspondent

Information from other publications and wire services was used in the compilation of this report.