LARRY MERCHANT'S POST-FIGHT INTERVIEWS

Larry Merchant interviewed both Hasim Rahman and James Toney directly after their 12-Round heavyweight title fight.

HBO Commentator Larry Merchant

Discuss Email to a Friend

March 18, 2006

MERCHANT:
All right, thank you, Jim. Let me talk first to -- to Hasim Rahman. Did you think you won the fight?

RAHMAN:
Definitely thought I won the fight. Thought I won the last round.But James Toney a tough fighter. I know that we fight again he going to come in much better shape. I can tell by the way he fought in the past. I don't have nothing but respect for James Toney. But James like to start this stuff. I tell him, man.We can both talk trash. So I, I can talk it, use profanity attacking him person. We the best that ever did it on the trash talking.

MERCHANT:
You look across the ring and see James Toney. See what he looks like. Do you think you can lose a fight to him?

RAHMAN:
No, I think I can beat James Toney. James going to make a lot of adjustments. Easy when you in there. Feel a little my power. I feel his power. We both going to come in better for the next fight. I see James Toney fight a lot better. I don't think that was 100% James Toney. I am sure something happened. He wouldn't come in weigh what I weigh, next time we fight.

MERCHANT:
He had a lot of clean shots, did he hurt you?

RAHMAN:
Nobody hardly never do that. Can I get some credit?

MERCHANT:
Yes you do, you followed your game plan which was what?

RAHMAN:
You know, stay behind the jab. I really offset him. I really wasn't supposed to lead with no right hand. But I did that and James best to counter with a right hand. Ain't no secrets with James Toney. Only secret is how much are we going to eat getting ready for camp. He came in heavy. Give me a better shot. Come in, 210, 220. Next time he'll be a little harder.

MERCHANT:
Thank you very much. Congratulations for retaining your title, rock. James?

TONEY:
What's up, man.

MERCHANT:
You were told by Freddie Roach going into the 12th round ineffect that you better, you better hurt him and stop him. He thought you were behind. How did you see the fight?

TONEY:
I saw myself winning by two, three points. That's the end game. I come back. I thought I won the fight. Hey that's the way it goes. Billy Blanks, everybody, thank you. Margaret. My mom, I love you.

MERCHANT:
Did you have anything in training that deterred you from losing more weight? Did you make a mistake not coming in lighter?

TONEY:
I didn't make a mistake. Never make a mistake. He came in for James Toney. One of the best players.

MERCHANT:
Did he fight a more disciplined fight than you thought he could?

TONEY:
He was kind of scared. (laughing) I'll say one thing. What the hell can a man do that another man can't do. Nobody knocking James Toney out. Nobody except the man upstairs.

MERCHANT:
Thank you, James. All right. Let me have a come words here. Well, it looks like -- that obesity plague that we have in the country they tell us will not have a champion.

Question I posed before the fight was -- the heavyweight division is -- an army of rebels looking for a leader.

Was the leader in the house tonight? I'm afraid I have to say I didn't see him. Rahman still a new man. Still be a force. And he'll be part of the process that we are of having the one and true champion.

Hasim Rahman. Somebody that will lead the parade. Somebody people will turn out for and say there is the heavyweight champion of the world. Didn't get him tonight.
Jim