James Toney v Samuel ‘He’s A Big Lad’ Peter

James Toney lost for the first time since 1997 as Samuel Peter beat him via a majority points decision in their heavyweight clash in Los Angeles.

The 38-year-old Toney was rocked back in the early stages but rallied well enough to take the fight with Peter, 13 years his junior, the distance.

But it was the Nigerian who emerged the victor, with Alejandro Rochin and Richard Flaherty scoring the fight 116-111 in his favour, with Gale van Hoy adjudging Toney as a 115-112 winner.

Peter, who now looks likely to land a title shot against WBC holder Oleg Maskaev, said: “He never hurt me.”

But Toney was surprised by the verdict, saying: “I didn’t lose this fight. I took everything away from him.”