According to an interview with Toney on Boxingtalk, Klitschko's camp has made an offer to fight Toney in Sept.
Here's the interview:
GL: What's going on James? I understand that Vitali Klitschko has recently expressed interest in fighting you on September 24. What can you tell you tell us about this? "He could get it in September, but they have to come correct with the price. They offered Dan 35%, but that's not happening. It has to be 50-50, and the reason I say that is because I'm the marketable guy, he's not. He's not even an American."
GL: So following the positive test result after the John Ruiz fight, you still feel you're in a positon to demand parity with Vitali Klitschko, HBO's darling?
James Toney: "You think I give a damn about HBO. We could do this on Showtime, ESPN, PPV, I don't care, either way the bottom line is I'm the most marketable fighter in the division and if they want to make this fight happen, 50-50. Dan and me are ready to make the deal and we could fight tomorrow for all I care. As far as the steroid situation goes, it's not my fault that my doctor gave me a prescription to help me get healthy faster. I do have a damn bone in my body from somebody else."
GL: Klitschko is supposed to be waiting for the winner of Hasim Rahman and Monte Barrett. If the WBC would strip Klitschko would it matter to you? Is your interest in fighting for the title or fighting Klitsichko regardless?
JT: "I'm interested in fighting Klitschko period. I'm the best heavyweight in the world, I'm the people's champion and I'm ready to prove it against anybody."
GL: Following the last fight a lot of people were disappointed that you tested positive for a banned substance...
JT: (cutting in) "The situation was it was a prescription my doctor gave me. I don't like drugs and I don't like needles. It was something that helped me repair my injury. And if the fight would've happened in June or July like it was supposed to, we wouldn't be having this coversation at all. I look at it as a blessing in disguise. The belts don't make me. They might make Klitschko but they don't make me. I don't care if the belt is on the line or not."
GL: Ruiz's attorney Anthony Cardinale told me that they're going to be filing a suit against you because you've damaged their marketability. They've also stated that there's no way you would have beaten Ruiz without being on something. How do you respond to that?
Dan Goossen: "Well let me answer that one since it's more of a legal one. You can't control what anybody ever wants to do as it relates to any kind of a lawsuit. To address that would be ridiculous because everyone is entitled to do whatever they want to do. So as James would say, next question."
GL: I have another question for you Dan since you interjected so intelligently. Don King was involved with the Ruiz promotion, will Don King still be involved with James future plans?
Dan Goossen: "Yes. I've had conversations with Don and he agrees with the direction that we're discussing so that's what we're doing."
GL: How realistic is a Klitschko-Toney fight for September with a 50-50 split?
DG: "If you ask us, it's very realistic. If it's not at the level we feel James value is at then it's unrealistic. That's something you're going to have to speak with Klitschko about. James is ready to sign on the dotted line right now for 50-50. Klitschko's got to make a decision, does he want to make a big fight or does he always want the higher percentage? If he's after the higher percentage, fight someone else."
GL: Can you explain why you feel James is in a position to demand parity following his positive test result?
DG: "The positive test has nothing to do with it. We've already explained what it is and there's nothing we could do about it. That's like saying Barry Bonds shouldn't be allowed to bat and continue to make the kind of money that he's making because he's associated with it."
JT: "I've already explained myself about this and I'm not going to talk about it anymore."
GL: James, after the Ruiz fight you were disappointed because you didn't knock him out. You said with a full training camp he would have never went the distance. If you have more than two months to train for Vitali Klitschko, would he go twelve rounds with you?
JT: "Nope. I would knock him out. We could make a million dollar side bet."
GL: What about winner take all?
JT: "That's even better because that makes mothereffers fight for real then."
GL: Klitschko hasn't seemed to interested in fighting Rahman, do you really think he's going to be interesting in fighting you or any other top heavyweight?
Dan Goossen: "If he runs, he runs."
JT: "But I'm the man right now and if Klitschko wants to prove me wrong all he has to do is step up to the plate!"
hmm
1) If Toney fights Vitali, he will lose. Never been more sure of anything in my life.
2) If Toney thinks he is going to pull out if he doesn't get 50-50, given that KLITSCHKO is really the bigger draw, and given he just tested positive for steroids (whatever the reason) then he's a bullshitter about wanting to "prove he is the best".
3) Toney's a cool guy. I like him. He better not let his ego get in the way of letting this fight happen.
Vitali should offer toney winner takes all, because as much as i like JT, there is absoluteky no chance on earth he beats Vitali.
Vitali is awkward but VERY effective. He got into a dog fight with Lennox and held his own. JT has done a great job of marketing himself, however he shouldn't want a piece of Vitali.
As good a boxer JT is, the size is far too great to overcome. I can't see JT winning an exchange, let alone a round, let alone the fight.
Dear JT, my sincere apologies.
If Tony blows this opportunity to fight Vitali by asking for 50/50 it would be just plain stupid, i mean what other options does he have. None of the other champions want a fight with him so he wouldn't fight byrd or brewster; plus he isn't allowed to fight for the wba belt for another 2 years. Toney has nowhere to go without this fight, if he doesn't take it he should retire.
If he agrees to fight someone else he will loose the belt thas what everyone is saying so how the hell can he fight someone else...The belt/title would not be on the line
His Dr GAVE him steroids to help his muscles HEAL, he didn't TAKE steroids to BUILD muscles. Like my partner was given steroids to help HIS body heal, after a wreck. My point is that it's a legitimate medical practice, with unfortunate, in both cases, consequences.
I ain't makin no excuses, just tryin to show that there are multiple perspectives on every piece of information. Drugs are everywhere, did you know that sugar used to be on the controlled substances list and was considered more addictive than heroin, which it may be. How many "drugs" do you use?
Addiction does not mean illegal...
People are addicted to caffeine, cigarettes, etc that does not mean anything.
And I wouldn't believe 90% what come out of Toney's mouth, or his camp..
I give him credit for being a great fighter, but his piece of shit personality SUCKS!
uh uh. Many would agree that Vitali is a bigga crowd drawer than Toney therefore, its understandable that Vitali get a bigga slice.
Not only that, he is the champ and he is the one with the belt. So Toney should be kissing his feet for 35% that he was offered.
That fat cow will try to do anything to get away from the match.
He was calling out the VK for a while.. and now he's making excuses?
Wasn't Phony the one to say "I'll fight Klitchkos for free"?
If I eat a poppy seed bagel and then take a drug test, I'm gonna test positive for heroin. Does that make me a junkie? Be careful of blanket statements, ie, steroids are bad. Which steroids? How bad? How were they administered, and by whom, and for what purpose? An old partner of mine was in a bad cycle wreck, some years back. The Dr's gave him steroids, really fucked 'em up. Anyway, don't be so quick to judge, NOTHING is as it seems.
First of all, Poppy Seeds Test Positive for Opium, not Heroin
Second of all, They can now tell the difference between the two, so they know it's poppy seeds.
Renegade... All I'm saying is that as a professional sportsman you should be strictly concious of what's going into your body ESPECIALLY when it comes to drugs. Toney can't blame it on the doctor or anyone else because he should be smart enough to know that those little white pills he keeps popping will show up in his blood stream.
I don't care if sugar is addictive, that's all academic... James Toney Knowingly took steroids and he's a professional sportsman. He's either completely stupid, or he got caught out. :dunno: It has to be one of the two!
And really all I'm saying, martinwbc, is there are steroids that come from Dr's and there are steroids that come from dealers. And yeah, any professional athlete should know EXACTLY what is going into his/her body, no matter what the source, and since Toney SEEMS to have known that the substances would have cleared his body by June/July why the hell did he take the fight in April?
I don't trust the media to deliver anything that even resembles the TRUTH, and steroids are the sports media's latest scare tactic. Kinda like our good friends the CIA..opps, probably shouldn't put that on the internet, it WAS developed by the Pentagon after all...LOL!
Have fun, man! Keep fightin' the good fight!
Why are you such a bitter and angry little troll?
Klitschko won't be able to fight the Barrett Rahman winner in Sept, because they're fighting in August.
That would make room for Klitschko to fight in September.
If you can't conduct yourself like a normal person, perhaps you should find a WWE forum to post at.If he agrees to fight someone else he will loose the belt thas what everyone is saying so how the hell can he fight someone else...
I know there are a lot of James Toney fans out there, but drugs and sport DO NOT mix.
If you're making excuses for Toney taking steroids then it's falling on deaf ears here fella.
Toney took steroids to help build muscle etc quicker, because he had been out due to injury... That's what he said, and a lot of the time that's why people take steroids, but I'm afraid that's still not acceptable.
His Dr GAVE him steroids to help his muscles HEAL, he didn't TAKE steroids to BUILD muscles. Like my partner was given steroids to help HIS body heal, after a wreck. My point is that it's a legitimate medical practice, with unfortunate, in both cases, consequences.
I ain't makin no excuses, just tryin to show that there are multiple perspectives on every piece of information. Drugs are everywhere, did you know that sugar used to be on the controlled substances list and was considered more addictive than heroin, which it may be. How many "drugs" do you use?
If Vitali aint a PPV draw, then who the hell in the Heavyweight division is?
Let me ask you this: If James Toney fought Ruiz on PPV.....wit that shit belt on the line, would you buy it?
If James Toney fought Vitali on PPV.....no belt on the line, would you be interested? (I think yo answa would be a resoundin, FUCK YEA)
That my friend, is called DRAW. Vitali is the crowd drawer, and most times belts dont mean shiznite.
I think this sums it up.
No one in the Heavyweight division (sadly outside of Tyson) is a PPV draw.
Toney vs Ruiz not being PPV doesn't mean anything.
Toney's biggest PPV sales to date was 150K vs Holyfield.
Vitali's was 125K vs Williams.
There's nothing to pick between them, so you didn't really sum anything up.
Toney's last 3 fights were agaisnt Holyfield, Booker, and Ruiz.
Vitali's were Johnosn, Sanders, Williams.
There's no reason why the purse shouldn't be split evenly, especially when the WBC title wouldn't be on the line.
Based on what? Selling 125K (if that) PPV's vs Danny Williams?
Vitali hasn't proved himself to be a PPV draw in the least.
Toney's win over Ruiz rivals any win Vitali's had ever.
There's nothing wrong with them splitting the purse for this fight, especially because it's unlikley the WBC title would be on the line.
If Vitali aint a PPV draw, then who the hell in the Heavyweight division is?
Let me ask you this: If James Toney fought Ruiz on PPV.....wit that shit belt on the line, would you buy it?
If James Toney fought Vitali on PPV.....no belt on the line, would you be interested? (I think yo answa would be a resoundin, FUCK YEA)
That my friend, is called DRAW. Vitali is the crowd drawer, and most times belts dont mean shiznite.
I think this sums it up.
i'm guessing VK has a bigger fan base and is a bigger draw than toney... isn't VK still considered the champ too, even though rahman/barrett will be fighting for the interim title... obviously though VK/toney could not be for the title...
uh uh. Many would agree that Vitali is a bigga crowd drawer than Toney therefore, its understandable that Vitali get a bigga slice.
Based on what? Selling 125K (if that) PPV's vs Danny Williams?
Vitali hasn't proved himself to be a PPV draw in the least.
Toney's win over Ruiz rivals any win Vitali's had ever.
There's nothing wrong with them splitting the purse for this fight, especially because it's unlikley the WBC title would be on the line.
If the intent behind the offer was serious, I don't see why it can't get done.
There's no reason they can't split 50-50, and the fight would be a huge boost in credibility for the winner.
uh uh. Many would agree that Vitali is a bigga crowd drawer than Toney therefore, its understandable that Vitali get a bigga slice.
This is a miss-match... Vitali will murder James Toney!
+ I think James Toney should have had his boxing liscence revoked for testing positive for drugs!... This is a sham if he's allowed to fight for a different belt!
Urrggghhh!!.... Any dignity that was left in boxing is going down the drain!.
If I eat a poppy seed bagel and then take a drug test, I'm gonna test positive for heroin. Does that make me a junkie? Be careful of blanket statements, ie, steroids are bad. Which steroids? How bad? How were they administered, and by whom, and for what purpose? An old partner of mine was in a bad cycle wreck, some years back. The Dr's gave him steroids, really fucked 'em up. Anyway, don't be so quick to judge, NOTHING is as it seems.
I reckon Vitali would keep Toney at a LONG arms length... And just hammer Toney to pieces from the outside.
There's just too much of a size difference between the two.
I'd expect Vitali to win by KO before the 8th.
A lot of people said Ruiz would just hug him to death and would KO him inside of 10. A lot of people said James couldn't take Ruiz' punch.
I know Vitali uses his size well...and I know he's on a completely different planet than Ruiz, but I still don't think he'd murder Toney.
If this fight came off and Vitali murdered James then I would be shocked and thats truth. I realize that the size differential is just disgusting, but James is fighting a lot better than people are giving him credit for.