By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com spoke with promoter Dan Goossen about two of the heavyweights in his stable, James Toney and Tony Thompson. Goossen is trying to line up tough opponents for both in early 2010. As far as James Toney, Goossen is trying to get him a fight with either unbeaten Odlanier Solis or former light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver. There have been talks for both. Goossen feels the fight with Tarver would be more of an interesting fight for the networks like HBO and Showtime. Tarver would move up from light heavyweight to heavyweight.
"It's a very interesting fight. Tarver was very focused and put up a good fight against [Chad] Dawson [in the rematch]. He put up a very good fight against him. A lot of heavyweights are still very reluctant to fight James. Tarver and Toney does have some links to it. I believe that it's something that will interest the networks. If Antonio Tarver agrees to the fight, it's going to happen. I have nothing that makes me believe that Tarver wouldn't more forward with the fight," Goossen said to BoxingScene.com.
Goossen tried to make a third meeting between Sam Peter and Toney, but Peter's side turned it down. He plans to inquire if Peter, since he doesn't want another fight with Toney, will have more interest in a fight with Tony Thompson, who just got a TKO win over Chazz Witherspoon. Goossen is also willing to put Thompson in the ring with Solis, if he the CUban heavyweight is not interested in Toney.