By Alexey Sukachev

Former three division world champion James Toney has been boasting about his plan to give top cruiserweight Denis Lebedev a beatdown on November 4th, when they clash in Moscow, Russia. Lebedev, and his trainer/boxing legend Kostya Tszyu, are planning another course of action. Tszyu wants Lebedev to break Toney down so badly that he throws in the towel and quits to avoid further punishment. 

Lebedev on Toney’s promise to beat him up: “We shall see who beats who up. Let him give it a try, and I’ll try to smash him too. I won’t say anything else about it”.

Tszyu on Toney’s promise to beat Lebedev up: “Let him bark. It’s even better for us. I loved when my opponents talked so much. I won’t reveal you any tactical secrets but Denis will box in such way that James Toney will feel bad for himself. It’s not about a knockout. If you humiliate an outstanding boxer it’s even better for you. If you remember, Roberto Duran in his second fight with Sugar Ray Leonard. He issued a “No Mas!” statement – that is how bad he was humiliated by Leonard. He couldn't sustain those jeers [from the crowd] any longer. We shall try to do the same with James Toney."