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Toney hoping for a tilt at Rahman

Toney was suspended after testing positive for steroids in April

LOS ANGELES, California -- James Toney's planned December bout against fellow American heavyweight Rob Calloway has been called off because Toney's connections hope that he might now face new World Boxing Council champion Hasim Rahman.

Toney's promoter, Dan Goosen, confirmed that there were talks that could bring Toney, 69-4 with two drawn and 43 knockouts, an early 2006 title bout against Rahman, voted the WBC champion after Vitali Klitschko's retirement last week.

Rahman's future plans are in doubt as promoter Don King backs four heavyweight champions, plus several top contenders, and has said he would like to stage a unification tournament.

King has also said he would like to see Rahman fight Toney and ESPN reported that King was talking with HBO about matching Rahman and Toney in February or March.

Rahman, 41-5 with one drawn and 33 knockouts, declared bankruptcy and missed out on a rich payday when a fight with Klitschko, scheduled for last Saturday, was called off. But he should profit from his new title.

Former champion Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali's brother, and Kazak veteran Oleg Maskaev, who won on Saturday to become the WBC's top contender, are also possible opponents for Rahman.

Toney tested positive for steroids after beating Puerto Rican John Ruiz in April, for the World Boxing Association title, and as a result was suspended for 90 days, fined $10,000 dollars and stripped of the WBA crown, which reverted to Ruiz.

Together with International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd and fellow American Lamon Brewster, the World Boxing Organization champion, Ruiz and Rahman place the entire heavyweight title picture in King's hands.

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