You get no argument here that yesterday top liner James Toney has proven credentials for featured billing, whether it be the Showtime Special or HBO Championship boxing stage - but today’s version is not near what it once was.

The partner for the September 2 showdown struts about with the "Nigerian Nightmare" sobriquet - but this Sam Peter nightmare, isn’t near what the original bad dream, Ike Ibeabuchi once was.

On that note, the tale of the tape - and a couple other opinionated  intangibles:

James Toney ~ age 37 - stands 5-9 and expected to arrive at some 230 for the NABF, IBA straps - and bigger prize yet, the winner claims WBC heavy title eliminator recognition.

Not sure if there’s enough left in the tank to balance the negatives of age, size, weight - and them 77 priors is an albatross of its own - toss in the wear and tear of shoulder and Achilles tendon injuries and the future could well have been yesterday.

Last outing a draw with Hasim Rahman - slow enough to have earned ballroom background music to muffle the sounds of a snoring paid clientele. But then, styles makes fights - Hasim as if playing in a mine field - and James in role of countering pacifist.

Still, Toney’s a survivor, and last year a win over Dominic Guinn - and a John Ruiz victory overturned, and reduced to NC after the wee-wee tested ugly - last solid win for the wily veteran, a blistering barn-burner in 2003 for the IBF Cruiser strap with Vassiliy Jirov - sealed the win with an explosive final stanza barrage.

Over the years he had mixed results with the Barkley, DeWitt, Griffin,  Holyfield, Jones and McCallums of the game - and from it he acquired a personal  brand of the sweet & sour science of pro boxing.

Samuel Peter ~ age 25 - 6-1 @ 240 - the rap sheet glistens at 26-1, 22 KO’s - and he too is deserving of shared top billing at the Showtime-HBO level stage - youth, coupled  with proven advantages of punching power and strength is there.

Hard to bet against celebrated one-punch knockout potential inside them mittens - the one that tops the rest, a 2004 round two near decapitation of Jeremy Williams - scary doesn’t come close when a booming left-hook scored perfectly while putting Jeremy to sleep.

Still, the scalps for the most part were off nameless entities - and the uno marquee foe Peter has met thus far is the one that put the blemish on the resumé - date was September 24, 2005, and Wladimir Klitschko took the rookie to school.

Were my corner Toney, he remains with what he does best - and today it’s about smoke and mirrors. Has the good chin but the body a vulnerable target. So, it’s jab, turn, grab, hold and hit - and mucho chat sessions while tied up. The Peter crockery late in the Klitschko fite hinted of Asiatic flu. Would suggest we use the ref to advantage - if headed for deep water, a low blow beneath that leather harness housing the metal cup may help - if done with discreet.  

And were Peter’s corner mine, the gift would be a George Feiffer non-fiction novel titled Tennozan - the name is from quote of 16th century Japanese warlord for his Decisive battle. Thus, my shout would be Banzai from the opening bell in hopes of  breaking the Toney body and will.

The $64.- answer for young Peter is about youth and power - for Toney it’s strictly trickery and a wing and a prayer.

GEL