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Wlad to fight Toney in September?
www.eastsideboxing.com
17.05.06 - Matt Stein: According to the latest boxing gossip, Wladimir Klitschko's trainer, Emanuel Steward, has mentioned James Toney, including Calvin Brock, Sergie Liakhovich, as a possible next opponent for Wladimir's first title defense in September, with Toney being the most likely opponent due to contractual problems with the other two. If a bout with Toney can, indeed, come true, it would be a stroke of genius on the part of the Klitschko camp, for Toney (69-3-3, 43 KO's) is the far more marketable fighter of the three, and could give Klitschko (46-3, 41 KO's) a good fight, even if Toney will likely get beaten into the ground in the end.
Either way, this is a win-win situation for both fighters, since James Toney would get another shot at a heavyweight title, after having fought to a draw against the WBC heavyweight champion, Hasim Rahman, on March 18, 2006, in a fight that Toney came into looking overweight.
However, even with the extra weight, Toney made it close throught, often taking the fight to the bigger Rahman. While for Wladimir, a fight against a crafty fighter such as Toney, presents the perfect opportunity for the big Ukrainain to showcase more of his boxing skills for the public, since Toney will probably be able to stand in, at least for awhile, under Wladimir's awesome fire storm of punches.
For Toney, this would be his third attempt at a heavyweight title, after having beating John Ruiz for the WBA title, which was sooner after changed to a "No contest," when Toney tested positive for a banned substance. There was never a rematch, however, so Toney never had a chance to redeem himself against Ruiz. Nevertheless, Toney is a formidible opponent, when in shape, and could present problems for Wladimir, if Toney can get inside to land his punches. However, at 5'9", 230 lbs, getting inside may present a huge obstacle against the giant 6'6" 240 lb, Klitschko, who prefers to fight mostly on the outside, using a powerful left jab, left hook, and straight right, to dominate his foes. The big challenge for Toney, would be trying to get in range of Wladimir, without catching something big on the way in. Chris Byrd, the last fighter who attempted to do this, found out the hard way that it's not too easy, in the process of a six round knockout loss, to Wladimir.
I see the fight as being completely one-sided, with Wladimir, after a slow first few rounds, soon pinning the 37-year-old Toney against the ropes, and unleashing a flurry of right hand, left hook shots, and dropping Toney for the ten count. Toney, like a true warrior, could probably make it up and try to continue fighting, before being snowed under by a landslide of Wladimir punches, causing the referee to step in and end the brutal one-sided affair.
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Originally Posted by Starr
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