The WBC Board of Governors approved by a vote of 21 to 10 the immediate rematch between Samuel Peter and James Toney, after their first bout which Peter won by split decision on September 2 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The World Boxing Council has always supported the decisions made by its ring officials and it will continue to do so. This approval of a rematch in no way questions the decision of September 2.

There were several reasons why the WBC made this decision:

1. First, for having been an extremely close fight which divided the opinions of the media and fans. This rematch will clear the air and we will have an official undisputable challenger to our new champion Oleg Maskaev.

2. The WBC believes that at this moment there can not be a more interesting heavyweight fight than this rematch. There is a huge public demand for this rematch and it will be very good for the promoters, as well as the prestige and the importance of boxing in the world.

James Toney was No. 1 ranked official challenger and he had no need to fight anyone to gain the right to contend for the title. By choosing Samuel Peter, the highest rated boxer adopted a top-level sports decision and the WBC wishes that the official challenger be the winner of this rematch so nobody has doubts about it.

The World Boxing Council decided, however, that should a purse offer be necessary for this rematch, the purse will be divided 55 percent for Samuel Peter and 45 percent for James Toney.

Samuel Peter spoke with me about his respect for the decision made by the WBC; he also stated that even though he wants to fight for the title immediately, he will accept the rematch to show once again his merits to contend for the title.

The WBC invites all parties to kindly restrain from using a hard language in their public statements, since boxing is a sport for gentlemen and we all would like to keep it that way.

Not a bad idea by them. I want Toney to fight Tito in mma like he said he wanted to though, that would be sweet (although Toney would get taken down and pwned).

I think its a shit idea
as controversial as the decision might have been WBC promised the winner a shot at the Title holder Oleg Maskaev.


Fuckin bullshit politics as usual

They should of just let Peter fight for the title because most likely he'd beat Maskaev then they could have Toney be his first title defense.

Id pick Maskaev to beat both Toney and Peter but im sure they could beat him to
I wanna see this rematch but it goes against the promise to the winner of a title shot

peter shud fight oleg, winner fights toney

I like to watch Toney's skills but I wouldn't mind if he mixed in a lap of running every now and then so he doesn't lose to less skilled fighters in controversial decision again.

He doesn't believe in running.

I knew they would fight again but I hoped it would be after the Maskaev fight.

Peter fought very well last fight and should be very confident for this one.

actually Toney was running for the first time in years before there fight

actually Toney was running for the first time in years before there fight

I didn't know that. All I heard during the fight was the commentaters (Lamps, Merchant& E. Stewart) going on and on about if running was needed or sparring good enough.

Both fighters did put out a lot of energy for heavyweights IMO.