James Toney unimpressed by the Klitschkos; world yawns in response

by SC on Mar 30, 2009 7:11 AM EDT in News Comment 15 comments

James Toney has opened his mouth once again, and the results are as predictable as Tuesday night's Pistons @ Cavs game: Lots of nonsense spewing forth.

In short, Toney says:

He didn't watch Vitali Klitschko-Juan Carlos Gomez because it was garbage.
The Klitschkos don't impress him.
Everyone is scared of him, as if he "has AIDS."
He's the best heavyweight in the world.
HBO is insulting the fans by backing the Klitschkos (neither of Vitali's two comeback fights have been on HBO, by the way) instead of James Toney: World's Greatest Heavyweight.
Bernard Hopkins is afraid of him.

So let me give my thoughts in the same numbered list fashion:

It was roughly as good a fight as Toney's December epic with Fres Oquendo, in which Toney was gifted a decision win.
Toney hasn't impressed anyone in years.
Nobody is scared of him, he's just hard to look good against. Also he doesn't manufacture any dollar dollar bills, since neither of the major American TV networks have any interest in him whatsoever.
He's probably the best middleweight pretending to be a heavyweight, I'll give him that.
If HBO put on a James Toney fight in 2009, we'd all be thoroughly insulted. I'm kind of with him on this though. Wlad-Haye or Wlad-Povetkin or Wlad-Arreola, that's all I care about right now. I have no desire to see Wladimir pummel another schlub on HBO.
Bernard Hopkins has bothered to keep himself in shape all these years and become one of the all-time greats of this sport, so maybe keep the lips sealed when it comes to Hopkins and even Roy Jones, who once beat the hell out of Toney and embarrassed him back when JT was exercising.
Toney, 40, hasn't been in a good fight since the war with Jirov (maybe I'm being harsh there, you tell me). Toney, 40, hasn't won an important fight since beating a washed-up Holyfield six years ago. Toney, 40, is a known steroids user. Pretty "old school." Oops, this seventh bit makes the lists uneven...
Oh hell, one more: "Lights Out" is about as fitting a nickname as Joan "Lil' Tyson" Guzman. The last light James turned out was via Clapper.

I'll always have mad respect for what James Toney was in his prime, and I truly mean that. I just wish the guy would stop talking and really, just stop fighting altogether. He's the epitome of what people hate about heavyweight boxing today: He's lazy, he's out of shape, he's "fat," he's boring, and he makes for rotten fights.

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The last light James turned out was via Clapper.

I’ve never viewed Toney as a legit heavyweight. Just a really fat middleweight. About the only thing I’d take Toney to KO these days is the all-you-can-eat rib buffet.

"I want to see ocean. I want to see black people. I want to see palms." - Wladimir Klitschko

by jrok on Mar 30, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he was a legitimate cruiser

But he’s now a fat cruiser. Then again, so are a lot of the heavies right now. Chambers is also a fat cruiser. Arreola’s a very fat cruiser (though he’d need to strain to get there, but he fought at 201 as an amateur).

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 30, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay

I am going to try and take his side for once. Um… everyone is scared of him because there is NO MONEY INVOLVED in fighting you Toney. Give it a rest.

"Count on us! We sponsored Margarito for several years." - CEMEX [Mexico's largest cement company.]

by Sickle on Mar 30, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

In JT’s defense everyone is scared of him…….why fight a guy who doesnt sell tickets and who at the end of the night no matter how well you fought is gonna have a chance to win a screwy decision

Bruce Seldon > Ali

by rjhabeeb on Mar 30, 2009 1:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe he should fight Briggs

Another nutritionally-challenged guy who is always complaining about being ducked. They could lower them both into the ring with gigantic cranes, Thunderdome-style.

"I want to see ocean. I want to see black people. I want to see palms." - Wladimir Klitschko

by jrok on Mar 30, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There was a time in my life when Toney was my absolute favorite boxer, mouth and all. At his prime, his ring style was poetry in motion. And now he is simply a clown.

It honestly saddens me to see him now, and I can’t even watch his fights anymore, which is why I’m never around when Scott moderates those threads.

After the Holy fight, I had hope that Toney somehow could actually be significant as a HW. Call it bad timing, with respect to Holy’s career. I continued to believe that through Rahman and the first Peters fight. When Peters, who I’ve never respected as a fighter, beat him so thoroughly the second time, I just gave up. Watching Toney now is a painful experience for me, though as a one-time super-fan, perhaps a different kind of pain than for some.

Now I’m pretty much just embarrassed that I still feel some fondness for Toney. I feel like even this post is sort of an embarrassing confession. But it’s the truth, so, here it is.

by Matt Miller on Mar 30, 2009 6:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yea when he was good he could do some shit nobody else could. True skill to roll and turn like he did

by lcollins1 on Mar 31, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No need to feel bad about it. I was a fan also of James. I used to love watching him back in the early 90s. He was a serious hot potato to move over to mainstream stardom but it did not happen. Jones had something to do with that. And not making weight etc.

Was a Great fighter with a lot of old skool tools. Now i just think he is a fat mouthy bastard who scrapes through fights against bum fighters. Thing is… If Toney is in best shape possible, say 347 pounds :) then he could steal a title..maybe. But i cant be arsed thinking about it. Enjoy your cigars.

Mainstream is brought to you ..
Underground you got to go there...

by dinkman on Mar 31, 2009 7:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Say hello to Ola Afolabi

the new James Toney

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 31, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Briggs has also been running his yap

All over the net, saying that HBO is involved in a “conspiracy” to deny him and to promote the Klits because they are white. I think both Toney, who recently called the Klits “Hitler Boys,” and Briggs have taken too many shots to the head. Why is it acceptable for black heavyweights to indulge in this kind of racist quackery? We all know if the situation was reversed what the reaction would be: world-wide headlines. As for Wlad fighting schlubs, maybe someone should tell the sanctioning bodies to quit making him fight so many mandatory bums.

by Uncle Chop-Chop on Mar 31, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

His mandatories actually haven’t been the problem. Povetkin is about as interesting an opponent as he can get, but he was of course replaced short-notice by Rahman, and short-notice there’s not much you can do. Tony Thompson was a dull fight, but a deserving challenger. Calvin Brock was the last time Wladimir excited me at all. I don’t blame Wladimir for the most part. It’s just the division. I simply have no interest in seeing another boring Wlad fight. It’s not his fault that past Haye and maybe Povetkin or Arreola there’s no one worth fighting. I just don’t care if HBO even bothers to pick it up in the future.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Mar 31, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 31, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want to see Toney knock Haye's ass out and then retire

So he can shut this guy up. I can’t stand Haye at all, what has he done at hw to get a title fight? Nothing!!

But you never know, if he ever fought Wladimir, all it takes is 1 counter right hand and Klitschko could be down and out on the canvas.

Joking!! I would love to see that though and if Toney did fight him, I don’t think he actually gets knocked out. Never in his career has it happened to him Talking about Toney against Wladimir

by Burt88 on Mar 31, 2009 10:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Haye has a shaky chin, but not shaky enough for Toney to knock him out

Toney hasn’t so much as hurt someone with a punch since he fought Ruiz.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 31, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now I’m pretty much just embarrassed that I still feel some fondness for Toney.

I agree with you, Matt. I’ve always loved a slick boxer who talks trash. ie Money Mayweather. I get my hopes up every time I hear JT is gonna fight. I always think, “maybe he’ll be in shape this time.” Maybe I’m just a hopeless optimist, but I just can’t turn my back on the guy. He’s been my favorite boxer since I’ve been into the sport.

Why is it acceptable for black heavyweights to indulge in this kind of racist quackery? We all know if the situation was reversed what the reaction would be: world-wide headlines. by Uncle Chop-Chop

Well, maybe if us white ppl were enslaved by black folks hundreds of years ago, then we could complain about it. I agree crying racism when u don’t get your way isn’t right, but let’s keep an open mind as to why these type of things are said.

by BlknGldSoulja on Apr 1, 2009 8:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs