By Sammy Rozenberg
The two most avoided men in the heavyweight division are on a collision course. On April 30th, 2005, James "Lights Out" Toney steps into the ring for a crack at heavyweight gold when he meets WBA heavyweight champion John "Quiet Man" Ruiz.
Ruiz has been on a huge win streak by beating such fighters as Hasim Rahman, Fres Oquendo, Evander Holyfield and Andrew Golota. Toney is looking to end the streak of Ruiz and rid the heavyweight division of the most hated man in recent heavyweight history.
BoxingScene caught up with James Toney to get his thoughts on the upcoming fight with John Ruiz and what he will do to counter the very frustrating hug and hold style of John Ruiz.
BoxingScene: James, are you at all worried about the hug and hold style of John Ruiz?
Toney: I'm not worried about anything. I'm going to knock that bum out. John Ruiz fights like a little girl. This is boxing, not hugging and holding. I'm going to whoop this guy's ass. The last couple of fighters that were in the ring with him let him hold them and hug them, I'm not letting him hug me. I'm not playing hugging games, I'm going to kick his ass all over the ring. I want him try to and hug me, I dare him to hug me.
BoxingScene: Norman Stone said that you are not a legit heavyweight, the Ruiz camp thinks that Ruiz will walk through you in this fight.
Toney: Let him try and walk through me. I'm knocking this guy out, that's all I'm saying. I knocked out Evander Holyfield the first time and Ruiz couldn't do it in three fights. He can hit me with his best shot, I'll smile and then lay his ass out. He can't hurt me, he can't fight me. All he could do is fight with the holding and the hugging like a girl.
BoxingScene: Do you think some experts are downplaying your heavyweight run because of your age and recent injuries?
Toney: They can say what they want to say, I feel good. I read what they say about me being old, about me being a blown up cruiserweight. Nothing but fools, it don't bother me because come April 30th I'll be the heavyweight champ of the world.
BoxingScene: Have you prepared a style of fighting to combat the hugging style of Ruiz?
Toney: I'm not doing anything different then I did in any other fight. I knock people out and I'm coming to knock him out. I expect him to hug me and if he tries to hug me I won't let him. He won't be able to do that to me.
BoxingScene: Why won't Ruiz be able to hold you and was able to hold most of his last couple of opponents?
Toney: They didn't know what to do. I know what to do. I'll hit him hard enough that he won't hug me for long. He may hug me, but it won't be for long after I hit him. I want him to fight me like a man, forget the holding and lets fight. He's the champ then fight me like a champ, not like a sissy.
BoxingScene: Are you fighting Ruiz because every other heavyweight champion doesn't want to fight you?
Toney: They don't want to fight me because they know I'm knocking them out. I give him credit, he stepped up, nobody else wanted to step up and fight me but now it's over for him. April 30th, I'll be the heavyweight champ, this guy is getting knocked out.