Legends promise entertaining fight

Iconic former heavyweight boxers Jamaican-born Donovan ‘Razor’ Ruddock and ex-titleholder James ‘Lights Out’ Toney are promising an entertaining bout when they square off in their ‘Rumble in the Sun’ boxing card at the National Indoor Sports Centre this evening starting at 6 o’clock.

At yesterday’s weigh-in at the AC Marriott hotel in St Andrew, Ruddock tipped the scale at 260 pounds, while Toney was a little over 247. However, each fighter said his opponent will be going down when the bell sounds tonight.

“Toney can’t beat me and I am not afraid to tell him,” Ruddock declared. “Not when he is a baby or when he is older, he can’t beat me ever. I am looking to see how far he can go. I am a born heavyweight. I am not saying I am going to knock out James, but only because I don’t want to,” he told the gathering.

However, James pointed to his illustrious record of winning across six divisions and how prepared he was for the contest.

“It his fascination (to beat me) but it’s not going to happen. It won’t happen. Look at my record, my résumé. I have gone down in history. I am going to knock him out,” he stated.

Toney’s trainer, Dicky Wood, insists his boxer is the undisputed champion, having never been knocked out during his career while winning title across multiple divisions.

“He is going to be good. He is coming in a good mood and he has been working a lot harder than people think. So he is ready to go,” Wood stated.

Toney added also that his preparation for the fight was good.

“I had 14 weeks. I am not where I want to be but am I where I have to be for this fight. I am ready for him,” he said.

The fight will be the feature of four cards on the night which will see Colombian Jose Julio going up against Richard ‘Frog’ Holmes in a six-round middleweight contest for the opening bout, Jazeer Heron square off against Canada-based Donovan Ruddock Jr in a four-round welterweight card, locals Tsetsi Davis and Jermaine Bowen will meet in a six-round light-heavyweight match, while American prodigy Abel Mendoza will match skills with Colombian Aristides Perez in a ten-round welterweight fight.

Proceeds from the fight will go towards Ruddock’s alma mater, Good Hope Primary School, and the the 59 year-old Ruddock is hoping for a full house to support his cause of building more classrooms for the St Catherine-based school.

“I want to see the whole place full, and I think it is going to be full. If they don’t fill it, they are definitely going to miss something,” he said.

Dancehall legend Beenie Man will also be providing entertainment for the night.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com