[1] After winning the IBF cruiserweight title from the previously undefeated Vassiliy Jirov to become a three-division world champion, James Toney moved up to heavyweight, winning his first bout in the division after knocking out aging former four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in the ninth round.

However, an achilles injury suffered during a sparring session two weeks before the fight forced Toney to pull out and kept him sidelined for nearly an entire year.

[3] It was announced in July that Toney would return in late September to take on undefeated 23-year old heavyweight prospect, and fellow Michigan native, Rydell Booker.

[4] The fight was aired live on an episode of The Best Damn Sports Show Period on Fox Sports Net and featured commentary from Max Kellerman, who hosted I, Max on the network, and Barry Tompkins and Sean O'Grady, the commentators of Sunday Night Fights, which also aired on FSN.

Toney was able to score the fight's lone knockdown, forcing Booker to take a knee after landing a series of hard shots midway through the eighth round.