TEMECULA, Calif. — James Toney looked fit and powerful in his first fight in almost a year. He still couldn't put away his overmatched opponent.
Toney rated his performance a "C-minus" after pounding out a lopsided 12-round decision over Rydell Booker in their 12-round heavyweight bout Thursday night.
Toney, whose last fight was a ninth-round knockout of Evander Holyfield on Oct. 5, 2003, tore an Achilles' tendon in training earlier this year and had to cancel a bout against Jameel McCline last Feb. 7.
Toney appeared completely healed as he relentlessly pursued Booker around the ring and landed punches almost at will.
"I had a lot of bounce in my step," Toney said.
Winning his 10th straight fight after coming back from the long layoff, Toney consistently rocked Booker with right uppercuts and had him wobbling several times.
Toney said he injured his left triceps in the first round.
"I felt I would have taken him out except for that," Toney said.
After Toney landed a series of hard shots midway through the eighth round, the reeling Booker dropped to a knee and took an eight-count. Although most in the sellout crowd of 3,000 at Penchanga Resort and Casino booed him loudly, he was able to finish the round — and the fight.
Despite taking a constant pounding, that was the only time Booker went down.
Judge Frank Garza gave every round to Toney, scoring it 120-107. Barry Druxman had it 118-108, and Marty Denkin favored Toney 117-110. The Associated Press scored it 120-107.
Toney, who has held three belts in lower weight classes and wants a shot at a heavyweight title, ran his record to 68-4-2, with 43 knockouts.
The fight was just the 23rd for Booker, and it was his first loss. The 23-year-old from Detroit is 22-1, with 12 knockouts.
His inexperience showed against the 36-year-old Toney.
Circling defensively on the outside and rarely landing punches, Booker was extremely vulnerable to Toney's uppercuts.
Toney also frequently landed stiff left jabs followed by hard right shots to the body.
Booker's nose began to bleed in the third round, then he bled from the mouth midway through the bout, although neither injury seemed to affect him.
His face was puffy and swollen by the end of the fight.
Toney, from Ann Arbor, Mich., weighed 227 pounds. Booker, flabby around his waist, weighed 220.