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Veteran Toney suffers Peter defeat

03/09/2006

Veteran heavyweight boxer James 'Lights Out' Toney has missed the chance of a shot at a world title after losing on points to Samuel Peter in Los Angeles.

The 38-year-old American fighter, with a more than colourful history, struggled in the early stages of this WBC title eliminator as Peter, 13 years his junior, came out all guns blazing.

Toney weathered the storm and came back stronger as the bout entered its latter stages but the judges' scorecards gave the win to Peter, who will now take on current WBC champion Oleg Maskaev.

"I didn't lose this fight," an irate Toney said after the decision. "I took everything away from him. I am not done, I am not fat and out of shape. This is not over. We are going to protest."

Toney's promoter, Dan Goossen, also insisted he would be pushing for a rematch before Peter is allowed to take on Maskaev but Dino Duva, Peter's promoter, denied a rematch would be made.

"James Toney was so slick that he lost by five points on two scorecards," Duva said. "Are you kidding me? Give Samuel Peter some credit."

Last night's defeat was Toney's first since 1997 when he lost an IBO light heavyweight title match against Drake Thadzi in Connecticut.

Since then he has won 15 fights but has also had two world title shots end in controversy.

The most recent one came in March this year when his bout with then champ Hasim Rahman for the WBC heavyweight belt was surprisingly declared a draw.

And then in April last year, Toney was originally awarded a unanimous decision victory over then WBA and IBA heavyweight champ John Ruiz before he tested positive for a banned substance and the decision was changed to a no contest by the New York State Athletic Commission.

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