The Lights Are Out, James Toney No Longer Relevant

Nuffin' but da luv for "Lights dimmed" -- I mean out -- Toney. But now he is kind of looking like a dazed dear staring at the oncoming headlights of a mack truck getting ready mow him down. Ditto Fo-L! Holla!

I'm one of those people who believed that Toney would be something special in the heavyweight division as soon as he takes his training seriously. After the Holyfield fight, it was all downhill for Toney,. He managed to get down to 217 against Greer but by that time it might've been too late as the fat he shed wasn't enough to counteract the effects of age. I didn't see the entire Greer fight, just some bad ringside video that a fan posted on YouTube. It was hard to gauge Toney's performance from that video, even though I read at least a couple of reports stating that Toney was quick and sharp. I couldn't tell from the video. Motivation was the biggest thing lacking from Toney, or so I thought. I never believed that Toney could beat the Klitschkos but I still felt that that Toney could bring something to the table that could make things interesting if he was in shape. And in the back of my mind I entertained the possibility of Toney actually outboxing one of the Klitschkos somehow. Despite Toney coming in overweight fight afer fight, I always felt that Toney was one serious training camp away from dazzling everyone and making a believer out of the entire boxing community. But the last straw for me was his first and hopefully last MMA outing. I was convinced that Toney had been training his butt off for nearly a year trying to learn the most fundamental aspects of MMA. I was 100% sold on Toney being motivated to prove something to himself and everyone by venturing out into MMA. It was no surprise that Couture took Toney down, but I thought that Toney would've made Couture work for it. I pictured Toney thwarting a few of Couture's takedown attempts and forcing Couture to do a little boxing. I envisioned Toney to be considerably quicker than Couture with Couture having to plod after Toney for some time before he managed to get the clinch, that is if Toney hadn't already busted him up with accurate punches. But none of that happened. Toney didn't put up a fight, didn't even throw a single punch on his feet and didn't even know how to properly tap out. In spite of that embarrassing performance, I probably still would've been forgiving of Toney had he come in impressive shape. At least I could've blamed it on his inexperience, and that if matched up with a striker who would be willing to stand and trade, Toney would still shine. But he insulted boxing and mma fans alike. Toney conned everyone and if that was his main goal then he succeeded with flying colors. Most reports indicate that Toney went home with a very nice paycheck that wouldn't have been possible had he fought in the ring, regardless of the opponent. Toney is done. He is a disgrace to himself and the sport of boxing. Many great fighters have fought on too long and ended up with humiliating defeats at the hands of low level opposition, but I can't think of any fighter who has degraded himself and his sport any worse than James Toney has.

Was this written by Ron Borges?? There is some truth in this article. However, empty, irrelevant and hollow are not words I would ever use for James Toney out of respect. I would say the Heavyweight division is empty, hollow, irrelevant, unsophistaced and a g-ddamned joke these days before I'd ever boldly diss the great James Toney. James has always been emotional, egotistical and easily bored. He reminds of actors like Marlon Brando or Ollie Reed, or boozy musicians like Harry Nilsson or Chet Baker. Being a genius ain't easy, I guess. But if Toney can't push himself away from the dinner table, deny himself a snifter of cognac or say no to ice cream and marble cake, well, then I guess he really never respected his competition. Why should he? Even if he won all the belts and became a Weight Watchers spokesman, he'd just be a stout middleweight in a sea of stiffs. 5 or more years ago, at any weight south of 220, I'd choose Toney over a Klitschko or any heavy alive. It's a terrible shame the way Toney let things drift, I suppose, maybe, I guess... I'd still rather watch James Toney box a kangaroo than watch either Klitschko do their Boris Karloff impression's against cherry-picked pluggers.

@Robert Curtis: Please name these "cherry picked pluggers" that the Klitschkos have destroyed, and name those that they should've been fighting instead but chose to avoid. Thank you.

The Klitschkos bros/docs are modern-day version of Dr. Frankenstein. The heavyweight division is DEAD. So these quacks/brothers are corpse picking, not cherry picking. A cherry-arse heavy softy would probably whup their arses. These suckas need something dat's dead, DEAD! A warn body of yesteryears would have ran them out of the ring. As Larry "So Contrary" Holmes said: "My sparring partners would have kayoed these [nowadays] heavyweight title belt holders." Ditto LH! Your sparringmate Joey Ballard woulda cut 'em up. Holla!

R.i.p.........

The lights have been out for James Toney for years. What has he accomplished at heavyweight? I suppose his best win was against John Ruiz (later scored a NC due to Toney's steroid use). Perhaps it was his stoppage of a shot Holyfield (who a year later would be stripped of his license). There's lots of Klitschko hatred out there, I get it completely, but Toney would have been hospitalized by either K. Even Wladimir, during his chinny period, would have been unfazed by anything the light-hitting Toney threw. He simply wouldn't have been able to keep him off him.

I remember in the 90's people remarked about how bad the heavyweights were. And that's now considered a great era. This certainly isn't the 90's, but I think the claim that it's simply the worst era ever is overstated. Some credit needs to go to the K's for their complete and utter domination. I suspect they'll get it when they're gone (like Lewis, who was only respected after Tyson).

Wladimir Klitshcko has beaten Ruslan Chageav, Eddie Chambers and Samuel Peter all in a row if I have that right, that is. All would (and one has) beat James Toney and he wants people to think he can beat the Klitshcko brothers? Even with the old "styles make fights" excuse and that's why Toney would win.... I'd still have to say, YEAH RIGHT! The heavyweight division isn't as bad as some act like it is. There's just some haters that will NEVER give credit where it's due. Don't get mad because Wladimir beats down everyone in his path. (the one's that'll fight him that is.... Come on David QUACK Haye) Wlad is just THAT good! In the sixties and seventies, heavyweight contenders were begging to fight Muhammed Ali and were highly anxious to take any deal they could get to make that happen because they knew if they won, they could call the shots next time. These days, we have some primma donnas who forgot what, "stepping up" means even if they get a GREAT deal. Isn't that messed up?

Toney has already told his trainer Buddy McGirt that he don't hit no heavy bag because they don't hit back... this should have been the part where McGirt shows him the door.

@FighterforJC. It's easy to name the chumps and pluggers. You know how to took up a fighter's record on boxrec. But it is much harder to name any Klitschko duckees, no doubt. You can't cherry-pick a petrified tree. How can they duck when no one is throwing? The problem with that pie fight between Vitali and Sam Peter is that Peter ate all his own pies before the opening bell. I wish there were some legitimate heavyweight contenders today, the same as I wish my cat could krap gold krugerands and rescue me from this life of drudgery.

James Toney fought the greatest Wrestler/Grappler in MMA heavyweight history, he lasted 3+ minutes on the bottom, and he learned just before the fight that the government was trying to take his pay! Why should he even have fought? I wouldn't have! And I would fight for free. These heavyweights are scared of him!, why? Because they know Toney has been screwed out of 3 major heavyweight victories that would have lead to title shots. And as much as boxing would love to keep screwing him, they can only do it for so long before somebody calls them on it! Hello!, with that said, James probably really wanted that big pay day, since he'd been waiting for a good fight for so long, he hasn't really had a good pay day in while, from fighting anyway. Can you blame him? I guarentee, if that did not happen before the cutoure fight, it would have been a different Toney out in that cage.

Who is this Frank Lotierzo sounding like every other analyst that hates on James Toney since he's been a heavyweight, after the Holyfield fight of course. very sad.

What these analyst forget or don't know cuz most of them don't train or do nothing is that the body must adjust to it's new weight, Toney started fighting at 168 or lighter, although he would be heavier in between fights like most, his body did not have to adjust to the weight because he would lose it and change weights often. even at cruiser weight, sure his body adjusted to being 200 pounds consistently, but since 2004 he's 220 pounds or heavier. with that said, his first few heavyweight fights = Holyfield, Booker, ruiz and guinn, his body was really getting adjusted and aclamaiting itself to being a true heavyweight body not only that but fighting and performing in one on a CONSISTANT BASIS. He should have won the first Hassim Rahman fight, the first Peter's fight and I dare you to go watch the second Peter's fight again and again, and not give it to Toney. in those 3 fights, he showed that he was a true heavyweight. after those 3 screw jobs = Batchelder, Rahman 2, Oquendo and Greer have nothing to offer Toney. Love it Or Hate it, Toney has really just begun his heavyweight journey.

It is precedent in all fighting/combat sports, the belt must be taken from the champion, when a young up and comer fights a legend, he must take the fight from the legend. Rahman is not a young up and comer, but he did not have anything to offer Toney anyhow. Peter's however was and is still an up and comer, Toney easily won the first Peter's fight!!! The second fight was closer, but I have watched this fight several times over and recently as well. I am going to give it to you as simple as possible, let's look at like a tug of war. Toney makes Peter's miss, drawing him in, and then punishes him with powerfull blows, keeping him from tugging back(making him miss) while pulling him in further(punishing power blows), this happens all fight long. What I am saying is that Peter's never was able to pull Toney in the tug of war, but Toney was able to pull peter's many times through out the fight with out much resistance. Sometimes there was no movement, but when there was it was Toney doing the pulling. Not only that but any excitement that happened in that fight was initiated by James Toney. James actually pressed the action and invited Peter's inn time and time again. I could tell you all day and night how Toney won these fights, but he was robbed, all because they want to give it to the young guy and Toney looks a little chubby... back to my very first point, If James Toney makes you miss, punishes you with counter shots, talks to the judges and crowd telling them how easy it is, that is a James Toney fight, that = a James Toney victory. On top of that guys, Toney was the one to Initaite much of the action in his fights against Samuel Peters, he lead with the jab, he was being held and pushed and belted in the back of the Head. Guys were not talking about robbing a guy of a victory were talking about twice robbing James Lights Out Toney from at least 2 heavyweight title shots against the Klitchkos, which Peter's clearly did not and does not yet have the experience to fight anyway. They are disscriminating and trying to put a hault on James Toney's legacy by robbing him of clear James Toney victories, Peter's did not take those fights away from the still active still potent legend James Toney

Thank you, sincerely

Candyman, respect.

There is no disgrace in being James Toney. Find some private collector selling JT's fight collection on DVD. Watch in awe. Yeah, Toney's past it. Tell us something no old school boxing fan doesn't already know. My advice to boxing writers: scold old fighters for fighting past their time, but avoid being disrespectful. Freddie Roach trained Toney for a while. No doubt he learned from the brilliant Toney and must have imparted that knowledge to the best fighter of our time and all time: Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao.

LOLLLLLL. Let's all give Toney credit for the fighter Pacquiao is today. Pacquiao owes his abilities to Toney as much Shaquille O'Neal gets his tool size from having sparred with Shane Mosley. LOL. Nobody is discrediting Toney's amazing talent, but if ever a great fighter could undo his accomplishments, Toney is the perfect guy to do it. You can criticize old timers like Holyfield and Mosley for staying too long all you want, but at least those guys take themselves and the sport seriously. There are many things you have no control over like diminishing reflexes, speed and stamina, but one thing that is in your hands is getting in top shape. Toney has not been in shape since he fought Holyfield, and even then Toney's shape was questionable, as the commentators expected Toney to be even LIGHTER for his next fight. Toney has disgraced the sport by fighting out of shape and testing positive for steroids on multiple occasions (no Olympic drug testing required!). The opportunities he was given against Rahman and Peters he blew by coming it at least 20lbs overweight. There's no excuse for that. The ultimate insult was convincing everybody that he's been training in MMA for 10 months and is in the best shape of his life.

Hey Candyman, So let me get this straight, I have to watch those awful Peter-Toney again? And this time Toney will win? I remember Peter, who cannot box, outjabbing and outboxing JT. Do you know Jerry? He had a slightly more crazy idea that Riddick Bowe was gonna come back and beat the K bros. Havent heard from Jerry or Bowe for a long time. I'm gonna go say your name five times into my mirror so you will apear at my house.

it is simple, you were wrong the first time you watched it. Those were Toney fights, period. Hell Toney's jab was more effective than Peter's, at least james jabs are real, Peters just holding his hand out there half the time pushing and holding. it's simple, you are wrong and you were wrong.

Come on man. The first fight was close but the second was not. Toney's days as a contender are over. Dude would be a stepping stone if there were any heavyweight prospects on the rise. It's just the way it is. Respect your opinion. Keep the comments coming. We need all the real fight fans we can get around here.

thank you " Roast" i sincerely appreciate that, fine example of not a real fight fan, the guy under you with his sarcastic shot at me... lol anyways,,, I am just saying these guys commenting on the Pteres fight probably watched it once or twice, I have disected round by round both fights, and the fact is Toney won both fights. It is sasd that the judges and many people give Peter's every EVEN round just because...Toney made him miss, puinichsed him for it and gave the crowd a show, Peters did not take either fight from Toney! ( Which is what Peters has to do). If Toney is in good shape, he can beat any top contender in the division, if he is in great shape and really making a run, he can beat any heavyweight champion.

Well Candyman, we all take our sarcastic shots once in a while. It's all part of the fun! We'll see what happens with James Toney. He needs a serious fight soon, he's running out of years. That Micheal Nunn fight was a loooooooooooooooooooooong time ago. I hated Nunn so I appreciated that KO. Hey when I said your name five times into the mirror you never showed up. Haven't you seen the movie?

James Toney has/had the best naturally-gifted inside game in boxing. Had he only spent some time training and watching his weight, he would be at the top of the cruiserweight or even lt. heavyweight divisions still.