James Toney vs Charles Williams

At the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, James Toney defended his International Boxing Federation Super Middleweight Title against Charles Williams, marking Toney's third defence. 

The bout, which culminated in a dramatic KO by Toney at 2:45 in the twelfth round, was seen as one of the year's most thrilling contests and established Toney's position as a formidable force in the boxing world. 

Despite a point deduction in the eighth round for hitting after the bell and Toney's left eye swelling wholly shut, the fight remained evenly matched until Toney's decisive victory. The win notably set the stage for Toney's highly anticipated bout with Roy Jones Jr., underscoring his prowess and resilience in the ring.

Charles Williams, from Mansfield, Ohio, with a height advantage of 6 feet 2 inches, brought a formidable challenge to Toney. Williams, known as "Prince," had a distinguished career in the light heavyweight division. He secured the IBF world light heavyweight title in 1987 and defended it eight times before moving down to super middleweight for the fight against Toney. 

This bout with Toney was his only foray into the super middleweight division, as he returned to light heavyweight for three more fights before retiring in 1996. 

The battle against Toney highlighted Williams' versatility and skill and marked a pivotal moment in Toney's career, as Larry Merchant acknowledged, "We are watching a great fighter."