elgigante
03-09-2005, 08:29 PM
Once again done by BADrew
http://www.scandinavian-boxing-rankings.dk/international-records/pictures/james-toney.jpg
James ?Lights Out? Toney
68-4-2 (43KO)
Born: Ann Arbor, MI
Titles: IBF Middleweight, IBF Super Middleweight, IBF Cruiserweight
For more than a decade James Toney had been to the highest mountain, the lowest valleys, and back up top again. His most noteworthy opponent before his first title shot was the tough and hard-headed Merqui Sosa whom Toney decisioned and became the first to knock the Dominican down. Shortly after, Toney was given a shot against IBF middleweight champion Michael Nunn. Although still undefeated, not many gave Toney a chance against the man many believed to be the best fighter on the planet. For most of the fight Toney was confused by Nunn?s speed and movement and James was far behind on points going into the 11th round. Toney then staggered Nunn several times in the 11th and finally caught him with a perfect shot to knock him cold. Only a month later, Toney decisioned respected middleweight Reggie Johnson and closed out the year with draw against legend Mike McCallum that many observers thought Toney had won. After a mostly uneventful 1992 (including a hotly disputed win over Dave Tiberi) Toney scored an impressive victory to settle the point against McCallum at the end of the year. That victory moved Toney into the top of the pound for pound ratings and cemented his place as a star.
After having trouble making 160, many thought Toney was biting off more than he could chew by moving up to 168lbs to take on Iran Barkley. Toney proved his detractors wrong and punished Barkley en route to a TKO victory. Toney went on to defend his title with more regularity than any of his contemporaries, fighting every 3-3 months. During this time he defeated Glenn Thomas, Tony Thornton, won a dramatic battle against Tim Littles in which Toney was in danger of being stopped by a cut and needed to press for a KO, and a dominant, impressive KO over former long-standing IBF light heavyweight champ Prince Charles Williams. A few months after Williams, Toney met Roy Jones Jr. in a superfight. It was widely known that Toney had weight troubles and it was rumored that he ballooned to approximately 200lbs just weeks before the Jones fight. Jones had his way with Toney from start to finish, knocking him down and winning a lopsided decision. This loss began a slump for Toney that would last for several years.
Toney decided to move up to light heavyweight where he would have less weight trouble but inconsistent training habits plagued him. He suffered an immediate loss to undefeated Montell Griffen, won several fights over the next year and a half including a win over the once highly-touted Ernest Mateen, then lost a very close decision to Griffen in a rematch. After beating an old version of McCallum again, Toney had his worst outing as a pro and lost a decision to unheralded Drake Thadzi. After defeating the late former titlist Steve Little, Toney took nearly two years off and made a comeback as a cruiserweight in 1999.
Toney stopped former champion Adolpho Washington and went back and forth from heavyweight to cruiserweight over the next few years looking anywhere from impressive (against Jason Robinson) to horrible (against Terry McGroom). Toney was then given a shot against undefeated former Olympic gold medallist and IBF cruiserweight champion Vassily Jirov. In a difficult fight to score, Jirov pressured Toney from start to finish. Jirov was right on top of him throwing punches while Toney slipped and countered effectively. Going into the 10th round some had the fight nearly dead even while others had Toney comfortably ahead. Toney savagely knocked Jirov down in the final round to put to rest any doubt of who the real winner was. Toney then moved directly up to heavyweight and gave future hall of famer and former undisputed champ Evander Holyfield the beating of his life, forcing Holy?s corner to throw in the towel. Due to injuries Toney has only had one fight in the past year and a half (a decision over Rydell Booker) and is currently rehabilitating his shoulder. The future of this gifted boxer is unknown but his unique personality, impeccable skills, and inconsistent training habits will likely keep the public entertained over the next few years.
http://www.scandinavian-boxing-rankings.dk/international-records/pictures/james-toney.jpg
James ?Lights Out? Toney
68-4-2 (43KO)
Born: Ann Arbor, MI
Titles: IBF Middleweight, IBF Super Middleweight, IBF Cruiserweight
For more than a decade James Toney had been to the highest mountain, the lowest valleys, and back up top again. His most noteworthy opponent before his first title shot was the tough and hard-headed Merqui Sosa whom Toney decisioned and became the first to knock the Dominican down. Shortly after, Toney was given a shot against IBF middleweight champion Michael Nunn. Although still undefeated, not many gave Toney a chance against the man many believed to be the best fighter on the planet. For most of the fight Toney was confused by Nunn?s speed and movement and James was far behind on points going into the 11th round. Toney then staggered Nunn several times in the 11th and finally caught him with a perfect shot to knock him cold. Only a month later, Toney decisioned respected middleweight Reggie Johnson and closed out the year with draw against legend Mike McCallum that many observers thought Toney had won. After a mostly uneventful 1992 (including a hotly disputed win over Dave Tiberi) Toney scored an impressive victory to settle the point against McCallum at the end of the year. That victory moved Toney into the top of the pound for pound ratings and cemented his place as a star.
After having trouble making 160, many thought Toney was biting off more than he could chew by moving up to 168lbs to take on Iran Barkley. Toney proved his detractors wrong and punished Barkley en route to a TKO victory. Toney went on to defend his title with more regularity than any of his contemporaries, fighting every 3-3 months. During this time he defeated Glenn Thomas, Tony Thornton, won a dramatic battle against Tim Littles in which Toney was in danger of being stopped by a cut and needed to press for a KO, and a dominant, impressive KO over former long-standing IBF light heavyweight champ Prince Charles Williams. A few months after Williams, Toney met Roy Jones Jr. in a superfight. It was widely known that Toney had weight troubles and it was rumored that he ballooned to approximately 200lbs just weeks before the Jones fight. Jones had his way with Toney from start to finish, knocking him down and winning a lopsided decision. This loss began a slump for Toney that would last for several years.
Toney decided to move up to light heavyweight where he would have less weight trouble but inconsistent training habits plagued him. He suffered an immediate loss to undefeated Montell Griffen, won several fights over the next year and a half including a win over the once highly-touted Ernest Mateen, then lost a very close decision to Griffen in a rematch. After beating an old version of McCallum again, Toney had his worst outing as a pro and lost a decision to unheralded Drake Thadzi. After defeating the late former titlist Steve Little, Toney took nearly two years off and made a comeback as a cruiserweight in 1999.
Toney stopped former champion Adolpho Washington and went back and forth from heavyweight to cruiserweight over the next few years looking anywhere from impressive (against Jason Robinson) to horrible (against Terry McGroom). Toney was then given a shot against undefeated former Olympic gold medallist and IBF cruiserweight champion Vassily Jirov. In a difficult fight to score, Jirov pressured Toney from start to finish. Jirov was right on top of him throwing punches while Toney slipped and countered effectively. Going into the 10th round some had the fight nearly dead even while others had Toney comfortably ahead. Toney savagely knocked Jirov down in the final round to put to rest any doubt of who the real winner was. Toney then moved directly up to heavyweight and gave future hall of famer and former undisputed champ Evander Holyfield the beating of his life, forcing Holy?s corner to throw in the towel. Due to injuries Toney has only had one fight in the past year and a half (a decision over Rydell Booker) and is currently rehabilitating his shoulder. The future of this gifted boxer is unknown but his unique personality, impeccable skills, and inconsistent training habits will likely keep the public entertained over the next few years.