James Toney
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| James Toney | |
 |
|
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | James Nathaniel Toney |
| Nickname | Lights Out |
| Weight | Heavyweight |
| Nationality | American |
| Birth date | August 24, 1968 |
| Birth place | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Style | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 77 |
| Wins | 69 |
| Wins by KO | 43 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Draws | 3 |
| No contests | 1 |
James "Lights-Out" Toney (born August 24, 1968) is a professional boxer from Detroit, Michigan and is a Huron High School alumnus where he was a 205 lb football quarterback in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Since his career debut in 1988, he has held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world Middleweight Championship (1991-1992; 6 defenses), the IBF world Super-middleweight Championship (1993-1994; 4 defenses), and the IBF world Cruiserweight Championship (2003). Formerly managed by Jackie Kallen, Toney is now self-managed.
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[edit] Early career
Toney had his first professional fight on October 26, 1988, beating Stephen Lee by a technical knockout in the second round. A draw with Sanderline Willliams was the first blemish on Toney's record, although he beat Williams by unanimous decision three months later.
A notable win by Toney in his early career was over fellow middleweight prospect Merqui Sosa in 1991.
[edit] Middleweight Champion
IBF Middleweight champion Michael Nunn defended his title against Toney on May 10, 1991, in Nunn's hometown of Davenport, Iowa. Nunn was leading on the scorecards when Toney knocked him out in the eleventh round.
Toney defended his title against Reggie Johnson one month later, and then defeated Francesco Dell'Aquila in October of 1991. Former junior middleweight and middleweight champion and Mike McCallum held Toney to a draw in December 1991.
His next fight, against David Tiberi of Delaware, resulted in a controversial win for Toney. Many observers saw Tiberi the victor, and Delaware Senator William Roth held a Senate hearing on boxing as a result of this decision.
Two more defenses of Toney's Middleweight title followed, including a decision over Mike McCallum in a rematch.
[edit] Super Middleweight Champion
Toney moved up to the super middlweight division and won the IBF Super Middleweight title from Iran Barkley in a dominating performance on February 13, 1993. He made three defenses (including one of former IBF Light Heavyweight champion Charles Williams) before meeting IBF Middleweight champion Roy Jones Jr. on November 18, 1994. Roy Jones easily beat Toney, even knocking him down in the third round. Toney claimed that making the super middleweight limit had been too draining and that he would campaign as a light heavyweight.
[edit] Years Without a Title
Toney entered a period of years when he seemed to lose focus on boxing. His performances were uneven and his weight steadily increased. His fight after losing his title to Roy Jones saw him lose to Montel Griffin at light heavyweight in February of 1995. After winning a series of fights at light heavyweight, cruiserweight, and even heavyweight, he again faced Montell Griffin in December, 1996, and once again lost a close decision. He beat old foe Mike McCallum in February, 1997, but then lost to journeyman Drake Thadzi in his next fight.
He continued to fight at cruiserweight and light heavyweight, beating a variety of undistinguished opponents.
[edit] Cruiserweight Champion
In August, 2002, Toney beat Jason Robinson in an IBF Cruiserweight title elimination fight. This set up a fight between Toney and IBF Cruiserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov. After a postponement, the fight came off on April 26, 2003, and Toney won a unanimous decision.
Immediately afterward, Toney moved up to heavyweight.
[edit] Heavyweight Career
Even when Toney was a middleweight, he insisted that he would one day be the heavyweight champion of the world. His good handspeed, slick defense, and exceptional counterpunching have enabled him to defeat physically larger (but technically less-skilled) opponents. His October 4, 2003 victory over aging former World Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield was Toney's entry into the heavyweight division. After a shaky first round, Toney picked the Atlanta legend apart with shots to the body and head before stopping him in the 9th round.
On April 30, 2005 he defeated John Ruiz by unanimous-decision in a 12-round match for the World Boxing Association (WBA) world Heavyweight Championship. However, as of May 18, 2005, it was [1] reported that Toney failed his post-fight drug test, testing positive for anabolic steroid Nandrolone. This led to the New York Athletic Commission changing the bout's official outcome to a "no-contest", deducting the win from Toney's career record, and banning him from boxing for 90 days. The WBA ordered that Ruiz be "reinstated" as its champion and that Toney be ineligible for another WBA Heavyweight title shot for two years. Toney defended himself by claiming that the steroids were given to him by a doctor to treat an injured arm that occurred during his victory over Rydell Booker in his previous fight. Toney was also subject to a civil lawsuit by Ruiz claiming that Toney's illegal use of steroids gave him an edge in the fight.
In his bout after the Ruiz fight, Toney won a unanimous decision victory over former heavyweight contender Dominic Guinn. Toney next fought against Hasim Rahman on March 18th, 2006, for the WBC Heavyweight title. The result was a twelve-round majority draw. One judge had the fight 117-111 for Rahman while the other two had it a 114-114 draw. The portly Toney weighed a career high 237 lbs for his lackluster performance.
Toney's most recent outing was a split decision loss on Sept 2, 2006 to Samuel Peter in Los Angeles, California, in a WBC title eliminator. Because of controversy surrounding the fight's outcome, the WBC ordered a rematch.
[edit] Amateur Career
Record: 35 fights, 33 wins, 2 losses
- Lost on his debut
- Won 1983 and 1984 West Michigan Division Junior Title (156 lb)
- Won 1987 Novice Golden Gloves in Manchester (156 lb)
- Won 1987 Michigan Silver Gloves (156 lb)
- Lost at first stage of 1988 Detroit Golden Gloves (156 lb)
- Won 1988 Ohio State Fair (156 lb)
[edit] Trivia
Toney has been known for his trash talk and general unsportsmanlike behavior for most of his career - following his split decision loss to Samuel Peter he tried to attack Peter's manager Ivaylo Gotzev in the ring and had to be forcibly restrained by members of his own entourage while Peter and his manager were whisked out of the ring.
Toney is an avid cigar connoisseur. In 2005 James Toney introduced his own cigar line titled "Lights Out." The cigar was custom tailored to Toney's taste by Lou's Tobacco, a cigar lounge frequented by Toney in Los Angeles, CA.
Toney has played boxing roles in a couple of movies, including playing Joe Frazier in the movie Ali.
Toney has appeared in the video game Fight Night: Round 3.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Michael Nunn |
IBF Middleweight Champion May 10 1991– February 13 1993 |
Succeeded by Vacancy filled by Roy Jones, Jr. |
| Preceded by Iran Barkley |
IBF Super Middleweight Champion February 13 1993– November 18 1994 |
Succeeded by Roy Jones, Jr. |
| Preceded by Vassiliy Jirov |
IBF Cruiserweight Champion April 26 2003–Sep 2003 |
Succeeded by Vacancy filled by Kelvin Davis |
