Boxing Profile: James Toney

“Lights Out” Headed For A Repeat In History

The recent WBC heavyweight eliminator to decide it’s number one challenger between James Toney and Samuel Peter was a fight that I had been looking forward to. In fact, I had been looking forward to it since about five minutes after their first encounter, a fight that left some people up in arms about who really won. Peter was given the decision, but it was a close bout and one with no real definitive winner.

What better way to erase any doubt in the minds of fans and the boxing community? A rematch of course, and what a rematch it was. At the end of the night ,Peter had proved that he was the better man. He did it in such a convincing manner this time that there was no doubt in anyone’s mind who the winner was.

When it was all over, I got up and turned off my television set feeling satisfied for once that we had a high profile fight end in decision that would not be disputed. Yet, there was something in me that did not sit quite right. Something that made me wish the fight never took place.

I sat back down trying to figure out exactly what it was that bothered me. I mean, hey! We have a potential positive in the heavyweight division here. Sam Peter is a young, polite, well mannered and humble fighter who can only bring good to the sport. There are few guys like him out there who relay such a positive image.

Peter also showed in this fight he doesn’t want to be another one of those fly by night knockout artists that we have endured so much over the past few years, coming out of the gate strong only to fizzle out in the end when it counts.

He showed he worked hard for this fight; there was great improvement in him. He was patient with his shots, and throwing three and four punch combinations instead of looking for the one big shot. He had some movement, his stamina had improved greatly, although his defense still needs work, but like the old saying goes “You can’t work miracles overnight”. No Sir!

When it came to Peter, I could not have been happier. Then, as I thought some more I knew it was James Toney that was bothering me.

I have never been a fan of Toney’s outside the ring. He is rude, disrespectful, arrogant and foul mouthed. All the things that give fighters bad images. But inside the ring, that’s a different story altogether. How can you not respect a man who has a 69-6-3 (43) record?

He has held world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, cruiserweight and if you want to count the win over Ruiz, heavyweight divisions. Prior to the second Peter defeat, his only one sided loss was to Roy Jones Jr., many years ago. Amazingly enough, Toney has never been knocked out in 78 professional fights and he may be the greatest defensive fighter of our generation; some will even argue of all time.

So why would I feel so disturbed about the loss of a man who has done all there is to do in this sport and then some? It has to do with the way he lost and that he will not come to terms with the fact that it happened., even if it is almost impossible to dispute.

Toney knew that he had lost the fight the second the final bell rang. The look in his eyes and expression on his face said it all, even though in his post fight interview he started to rumble in denial and claim foul by the judges.

My Father told me many years ago, when I was just a boy, that regardless of what a person says to you, no matter with how much conviction in their voice, the eyes never lie. If you look deep enough the truth is there. For a five second period after the final bell, as Toney walked back to his corner, you could see it in his eyes. Watch the fight again my friends if you don’t believe me. The look of a discouraged and beaten man was there.

But that is not what concerns me. What concerns me is that somewhere between that five seconds and his interview in the ring, James Toney convinced himself otherwise. He felt the fight should have gone to him. Again, you could see it in his eyes that he believed what he was saying. It was not just false bravado on his part for the cameras. He actually believed what he was saying.

Everyone will be in agreement, I am sure, be it fan or detractor, that James Toney will go into the Hall of Fame and rightfully so. After all, with what he has accomplished in the ring, he deserves it. I am also willing to bet my life savings that James Toney will fight again and he will win more fights.

It is obvious to us all that he is not the same fighter that he once was or was even two years ago. Most top analysts have said that they believe James Toney is so defensively skilled that he will always be able to keep himself from being beaten up to badly in the ring, even after he is not able to be effective on an offensive level.

It is that defense that has allowed him to compete as a heavyweight. It is that defense that has made him an all time great. The Toney rematch proved this to not be so true. His legendary defense showed signs of deterioration. Was he knocked out? No! Was he hurt badly? No!

But when have you ever seen James Toney hit so flush, so many times? When was the last time that you saw Toney swollen to the degree that he was bleeding from the mouth, looking like a defeated man? When has Toney ever looked like an opponent? When have you seen Toney off his feet?

Many years ago it was against a prime super middleweight Roy Jones, who at that weight may have been one of the most gifted fighters to ever grace the sport. Toney was knocked down by a jab. Was he off balance at the time? Yes, but my point being again, when have you ever seen James Toney off balance to the point a jab can knock him down? I don’t care how strong the fighter is! Let’s face it, Peter is improving but he is no scientific marvel who is able to maneuver his opponents to his liking.

Throughout time, there have been many legends who have gone out in ways less than befitting their stature, some to the point that it has brought tears to the eyes of their loyal fans. Muhammad Ali was devastated by Larry Holmes and then defeated in a one sided thrashing by Trevor Berbick, looking like a mere shell of his former self on his stool in the end.

Joe Louis ended a stellar career by being on the receiving end of a hellacious beating at the hands of Rocky Marciano. Meldrick Taylor was nothing more than amusement to second rate no hopers in smoke filled, makeshift arenas at the end of his career. Jack Johnson ended his career by being knocked out by a man with three fights.

The once most feared heavyweight in history, Mike Tyson, ended his career on the canvas, refusing to get up after being knocked down by Kevin McBride, a man who would not have gone a full round against Tyson during Iron Mike’s heyday.

Whether you were a fan of these men or not, it was a sight of pity to see such things to the once great men who managed to have one fight too many. All started in decline by being dominated by a younger, stronger fighter because their body and nature could not do what it once did, turning them from great to less than ordinary.

This is a topic that I have talked about before and will again, I am sure. Why? Because great fighters always seem to follow the same path to disaster. James Toney is one of those fighters, following that path.

You have been a great champion, James. I know that in your heart, you know that it is time, even if you won’t admit it to the public. It is time to think about yourself and your family. It is time to think about hanging them up and going out with some style, while you still can.

For years, I have listened to one of the greatest self promotion lines of all time from one of the greatest fighters of all time. “What happens when you don’t pay your electric bill? “It’s Time To Turn Out The Lights!”.

James, walk away now before the lights that get turned out are yours. Then, you can’t blame anyone but yourself.