Tallahassee fight could determine whether Toney tries for another world title

James Toney stands over Evander Holyfield after knocking down the former
champion on the way to winning by TKO.
Photo courtesy Boxrec

By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook writer

James Toney is laying the foundation for a full-fledge career as a boxing promoter, but in the meantime he wants to become the oldest man to win the heavyweight world championship.
How far he goes in his quest at age 47 will depend on how his performance in his next fight, said his manager John Arthur. It takes place in Tallahassee on June 18.

 
“I want to be the best,” Toney said in an interview with the Outlook. “I want to be heavyweight champion of the world. I know I can do it if I’m given the opportunity.”

 
At his age, Toney would become the oldest man to win the heavyweight title. George Foreman currently holds that distinction for beating Michael Moorer on a knockout in 1994.

 
After 89 fights (76-10-3), Toney said he is still as inspired to carry on. He is training just as hard, with the exception of fewer rounds of sparring, he said.

 
But his recent decision to partner with nemesis Roy Jones could be a sign that Toney won’t wait too long for what would be his last shot at being heavyweight champion, said Arthur.

 
“I don’t know if Mother Nature and Father Time will permit us to do it.” Arthur said, adding that Toney will give such a fight his all.

 
“James will stand right there in front of you and make you miss,” Arthur said. “He is one of the best defensive fighters I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen him do things that you can’t train anybody to do.”

 
Toney, whose career spans almost three decades, knows that he will have to take chances to get a shot at any of the three major champions in a division that’s crowded with much younger fighters. Given the opportunity, Toney said it won’t be different from any of his fights.

 
“I take any and all comers,” Toney said, confidence ringing in his voice.

 
Toney, who was voted Fighter of the Year twice during his 28-year career, has won titles in three different weight classes — middleweight (160 pounds), super middleweight (168) and cruiserweight (190).

 
He challenged for the heavyweight title twice, beating John Ruiz in one of those attempts for the World Boxing Association title. That made him just one of only three fighters to win the middleweight and heavyweight titles.

 
But a positive drug test following the Ruiz fight in 2005 reversed the outcome to a no contest and Ruiz was reinstated as champion.

 
Toney’s career seemed to be over after he stayed away from boxing for two years but he returned in 1999 to start a 13-win streak that included a ninth-round knockout of Evander Holyfield. That bout, said Toney, was the biggest of his career and not his disputed loss to Jones in 1994.

 
“Everybody thought Evander would bowl me over; hurt me and all that,” he said. “My skills were way better; 100 percent. Everybody saw it when it was all over.”

 
Six years after the Holyfield win, Toney tried his hand at mixed martial art. He took on UFC legend Randy Couture and lost a decision before returning to boxing.

 
While Toney is hoping for one last significant heavyweight fight, Arthur said he didn’t think he’d stay around just to be an opponent on the drawing power in his name.

 
“There are guys who just want to get his name on their resume,” Arthur said. “They can tell their grand kids they fought James Toney.”