JAMES TONEY
PROFILE AND BIO

KEY FIGHTS

Continued From Profile and Bio

2005

APRIL - WON WBA HEAVYWEIGHT WORLT TITLE BY A 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION. RESULT CHANGED TO NO DECISION AGAINST DEFENDING CHAMPION, JOHN RUIZ. The early rounds were close, but James rallied in the second half of the fight and scored a knockdown in the 7th round. He swept rounds 7, 8, 9. 11 and 12 on all three scorecards. Afterwards, Toney said, "I only had 4 1/2 weeks to prepare for this fight. I didn't expect much from Ruiz because he is an average fighter. Don King should take Ruiz and throw him in the garbage can where he belongs. I knew I would win if I just put my mind to it. You know I worked hard. If I had the proper time, I probably would have knocked him out. He wasn't in that good of a shape, and I wasn't in tiptop shape, but I still had what it took."

2004

SEPTEMBER - WON WBC ELIMINATION BOUT FOR NO. 1 RANKING BY 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION AGAINST PREVIOUSLY UNDEFEATED PROSPECT, RYDELL BOOKER. Toney dominated most of the fight, consistently outworked Booker, rocked him repeatedly and scored a knockdown in the 8th round. Afterwards, Toney said, "I hurt my left arm in the first round, but I'm a warrior. You don't play boxing. You play basketball, you play football. You don't play fighting with me."

2003

OCTOBER - WON BY TKO AGAINST FORMER FOUR-TIME HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION, EVANDER HOLYFIELD. James weighed 217, his highest in 19 months, but was very impressive. Holyfield started fast, rocked Toney late in the 1st round, and landed a hard right hand in the 3rd. Toney dominated the rest of the fight. He kept a busier pace and was the more accurate puncher. He frustrated Holyfield with effective upper-body movement and rocked him in nearly every round, sometimes repeatedly, and bloodied his mouth in the 8th. Toney socred a knockdown in the 9th. After the fight, Toney said, "My talent speaks for itself. Evander Holyfield is a great fighter, and I used to watch him when I was a kid, but I had to do what I had to do I did what I get paid to do. I really only got my butt whipped one time in this world. That's when I came into this world and the doctor slpped me on my butt."

APRIL - WON IBF CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE BY A 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION AGAINST PREVIOUSLY UNDEFEATED DEFENDING CHAMPION, VASSILIY JIROV. In an exciting fight, Jirov started fast, but James rallied in the middle rounds and dominated the second half of the fight. Toney bloodied Jirov's nose in the 5th and Jirov was penalized one point for low blows in the 8th. Toney scored a knockdown in the 12th round. After the fight, Toney said, "It feels great to be champion again. I got all the strengh in the world. I can fight anybody, anywhere. That right hand was something terrible. I came with an uppercut and hooked to the body. He was taking my punches, but I hit too hard. It's like a Mack truck behind a 190-pound body." Trainer, Freddie Roach, commented, "I've been waiting a long time for James to wake up, since the Roy Jones fight. He really got motivated for this fight."

2002

AUGUST - WON IBF CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR BY KO AGAINST JASON ROBINSON. Toney scored a knockwon with a right hand in the 5th round and knocked Robinson down again with a left hook in the 7th. Robinson was counted out at 2:47.

MAY - WON BY TKO AGAINST MICHAEL RUSH. Toney pressed forward, outworked Rush, and dominated the fight. Rush rallied in the 5th and 6th rounds, but James came back strongly, staggered Rush in the 10th round. The referee stopped the fight at 2:10.

MARCH - WON A 10-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION AGAINST SLONE ASIPELI. Toney dominated the fight with a busier pace and consistently landed the harder punches. Afterwards, Toney said, "I've been off for eight months, but that's no excuse. I'd give myself a C+. The inactivity, the rest, the guy was strong, but that's what I need to get back into top condition. I don't like going the distance. I call myself 'Lights Out' because that's what I do. I'll give a better show the next time around."

2001

JULY - WON BY KO AGAINST WESLEY MARTIN. Toney scored two knockdowns in the 1st round and another in the 2nd. He punched out Martin's mouthpiece in the 3rd, and Martin was on his way to the canvas again when the refere stopped the fight at 1:08 of the 3rd.

MARCH - WON BY KO AGAINST FORMER TWO-TIME WORLD TITLE CHALLENGER, SAUL MONTANA. James knocked down Montana with a left hook in the 2nd round, and he was counted out at 2:26. After the fight, James said, "I caught him with a great hook and twisted his head around. That's all it took. I felt pretty good. I've been doing the movies and trying to train at the same time, so it was kind of hard. And I've had a couple of injuries along the way. Everything's happy here. I've got a new wife, new kids. Me and Freddie Roach, this team is No. 1, baby. Can't nobody stop us."

2000

NOVEMBER - WON BY TKO AGAINST COURTNEY BUTLER. Toney scored a knockdown in the 3rd round and the referee stopped the fight at 1:14.

JANUARY - WON A 10-ROUND MAJORITY DECISION AGAINST FORMER U.S. NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPION, TERRY MCGROOM. Toney was the sharper puncher and bloodied McGroom's nose, but McGroom outhustled James at times and made it a very close fight.

1999

OCTOBER - WON A 10-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION AGAINST FORMER CUBAN AMATEUR STAR, RAMON GARBEY. Toney gave a good performance, was sharper and busier throughout.

JULY - WON BY TKO AGAINST FORMER IBF CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION, ADOLPHO WASHINGTON. Toney kept a busier pace, dominated every round, and stopped Washington at :52 of the 10th.

MARCH - WON BY TKO AGAINST TERRY PORTER. James returned to the ring after 20 months off. He scored a knockdown in the 1st round, dominated the fight, and stopped Porter at 2:09 of the 8th round.

1997

JUNE - WON A 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION AGAINST FORMER WBA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION, STEVE LITTLE who gave a determined effort in the early rounds. James eventually took control to win decisively.

MAY - LOST A 12-ROUND MAJORITY DECISION AGAINST DRAKE THADZI. Toney was in poor condition. The fight was supposed to be for a vacant minor light heavyweight title, but James was overweight and they fought for the vacant cruiserweight title. Thadzi consistently outworked Toney and rocked him several times.

FEBRUARY - WON A 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION AGAINST FORMER THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION, MIKE MCCALLUM. It was their third fight. The first two had been close, exciting battles between respected champions, resulting in a draw and a decision win for Toney, but this one was sloppy and both were out of shape. The fight was originally scheduled for a minor light heavyweight title, but again, James was overweight and they fought for the cruiserweight title.

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