GL: Last week you and Shelly Finkel exchanged some pleasantries on Boxingtalk.com. Have the two of you spoken since then?
Dan Goossen: Greg, we're always pleasant. I think Shelly is a little embroiled in the NY court case right now but we had a good conversation. What it boils down to is, the fight can be made from our side the question is, will it be made from their side?
GL: When will you know if they're going to move forward with James or Oleg Maskaev, whom Boxingtalk.com reported as Vitali's likely opponent over a week ago? I also understand that Maskaev is still the frontrunner for a Klitschko fight as we speak.
Dan Goossen: "I don't know if it's the frontrunner but the most important thing our industry could do right now is present the best fights out there, especially in the heavyweight division. We need to get this heavyweight division back into the lime light that it has enjoyed throughout the years of boxing. The only way we're going to do this is by having who the people think are the best fighting the best. Certainly the biggest fight out there in the heavyweight division today is Vitali Klitschko and James. It doesn't matter if it happens on PPV or premium cable, anything less would be exactly that, less.
"I think Shelly is looking at it from the stand point that we are, and that's to make the best fights out there for his fighters. And we all know that James is ready to get in there with this monster immediately."
GL: If it's not Klitschko, when could we expect James next fight to take place?
Dan Goossen: "I've already had some talks with Don (King) about doing something with Chris Byrd. We feel James is the best heavyweight in the world and he's looking forward to fighting in September. We've made no bones about it for the past year and a half, we want to fight Vitali Klitschko, now it's up to Vitali to see how he feels about everything. We can't make Vitali, or any other fighter, take a major risk in fighting James, it's the individual fighter's decision whether or not they're up to the task."
GL: When I spoke with Finkel he told me they were too far along with the Maskaev fight to do anything with James.
DG: "I certainly didn't feel that way after we spoke. I'm not concerned with how far along they are, now is the time and place to be able to deliver a Klitschko-Toney fight. The key is that no deals have been made out there for any particular fight with Klitschko as we speak. Freddie Roach feels James knocks Vitali out, James feels the same way and so do I. Klitschko-Toney is great for boxing, great for the fans and great for the industry. We're over all of the financial hurdles as far as making the fight happen and those are usually the major obstacles, so let's just see where it goes from here. We want to get this heavyweight division back into the spotlight, the question is, does Klitschko?"
Toney is not going up, Vitaly is going down :)
Look at your own avatar. And remember how the black knight was brought down.
(Ruiz is 6'2 and vitali 6'7½, but vitali has a bigger face (and nose)..so his chin is around the same hight as ruiz's ;) )Ruiz has no skill at all, dont ever compare him to Vitali, Toney cpouldnt even knock Ruiz out..
If booker get his ass beaten, but manages to stay up to a ONE ARMED Toney (go see the fight)...
...this definitely will be a great fight to see.
Toney will KO vitali in the later rounds, it think.
No way, watch the Sanders fight, people say Sanders sucked this and that, watch the fight, look at some of the shots Klitschko took and he still threw a lot of punches in the fight and was still looking good in the end of the fight, I think this fight might similar to the Sanders fight. Toney will try to get inside but he wont Klitschko will hit him from the outside and then will go in for the kill I would say 8th to 9 th round...
He's been talking abotu this moment for as long as I can remember. I think we'd see him in as good of shape as he'll ever be at heavyweight. Hopefully this fight is made and both guys come in tip-top form. I don't want to see excuses either way.
name one fight where Vitali didint come in at top form? Hes not a stupid fighter like the rest of the guys coming in with fat hanging all over and ass crack sticking out, so then u bitches make excuses why ur fighters get beat. Toney will not beat Klitschko he has no punch to speak off and is not as quick as people say he is...
Some of you are forgetting that TONEY COULDN'T KO RUIZ OR BOOKER!
Toney is a great fighter, but IMO Toney koing VK is very unlikely. In fact, if Wlad fought him the way he fought his last fight, I would say that Toney winning that fight would be unlikely as well. The guy's 5'9, the only reason he was able to hit Ruiz with all those rights is that Ruiz kind of crouches, VK does not. I do hope this fight is made though, so we can start all the "Toney was too small and we all knew it" posts lol
yeah right :D
toney needs a ladder
Toney is not going up, Vitaly is going down :)
Look at your own avatar. And remember how the black knight was brought down.
(Ruiz is 6'2 and vitali 6'7½, but vitali has a bigger face (and nose)..so his chin is around the same hight as ruiz's ;) )
I just don't see Toney winning this one. If it was against younger brother Waldimir than Toney would stand a better chance of beating him vice older brother Vitali. The reason for this is that Waldimir would come out very aggresive and Toney will shoulder roll with the punches and let Waldimir blow his hole load in the first few rounds and go after him in the latter. Toney loves those types of fighters that come to him. He totally eats them up. Now Vitali on the other hand is a much smarter fighter. He would not try and sale or impose his size and strength on Toney. He will use his jab and throw right hands to control the fight as he has in most of his past fights regardless of size of opponent. He will control the pace of the fight with the jab and straight right hand which will make it very hard for Toney. I see Toney possibly being stopped or losing a one sided unanimous decision.
Seeing Toney last week, he looks a lot more trim and in shape than when he fought Ruiz. He's been in the gym ever since, and will be in excellent shape by Sept if this fight comes off.
James should be an under dog in this fight because of the age injuries and size difference, but I think he's got a shot.
He's a class fighter, and it wouldn't suprize me if he pulled this one out somehow.
I just hope Klitschko has the balls to take this fight.
where did you see him? cause when i saw him he looked like he was getting heavy again. he was wearing a way oversized shirt to hide his barrel
If booker get his ass beaten, but manages to stay up to a ONE ARMED Toney (go see the fight)...
...this definitely will be a great fight to see.
Toney will KO vitali in the later rounds, it think.
yeah right :D
toney needs a ladder
Toney's got no chance to knock him out.
If Booker can stay up against Toney, Klitchko can kill him.
If booker get his ass beaten, but manages to stay up to a ONE ARMED Toney (go see the fight)...
...this definitely will be a great fight to see.
Toney will KO vitali in the later rounds, it think.
Seeing Toney last week, he looks a lot more trim and in shape than when he fought Ruiz. He's been in the gym ever since, and will be in excellent shape by Sept if this fight comes off.
James should be an under dog in this fight because of the age injuries and size difference, but I think he's got a shot.
He's a class fighter, and it wouldn't suprize me if he pulled this one out somehow.
I just hope Klitschko has the balls to take this fight.
He's been talking abotu this moment for as long as I can remember. I think we'd see him in as good of shape as he'll ever be at heavyweight. Hopefully this fight is made and both guys come in tip-top form. I don't want to see excuses either way.
Seeing Toney last week, he looks a lot more trim and in shape than when he fought Ruiz. He's been in the gym ever since, and will be in excellent shape by Sept if this fight comes off.
James should be an under dog in this fight because of the age injuries and size difference, but I think he's got a shot.
He's a class fighter, and it wouldn't suprize me if he pulled this one out somehow.
I just hope Klitschko has the balls to take this fight.
No one better get in the way of this fight!
Rahman, shut up and go train for Barrett.
Byrd?? What, has your wife let you come out and play yet?
Maeskev. You seem to be lost, we are talking about Title fights here.
He started his career at middleweight and now he is up there knocking out heavyweights.Which heavyweights are you talking about?
The 40 year old Holyfield?
_____
Anyway, this is a dream fight... and does a lot of good for the division..
1 - If Klitschko wins, he proves that he can compete with the top level of opponents
2 - If Toney wins.. well, a) He proves that he is in fact a top and very talented boxer and a worthy champ! However he has already proved that in other divisions, yet this will prove the same for HW. b) All you haters will have your chance to pile all the "I told you he was nothing" ..
So lets hope the fight happens and see where it takes us!
I truly hope that this fight is made. It would be great to see James Beat Vitali Klichko you know? James is someone that everyone is sleeping on. He started his career at middleweight and now he is up there knocking out heavyweights. The only advantage I would give Klichko is his sheer advantage from size. But you know James Toney always slipping and sliding not getting hit and delivering punches honestly I would definitely give Toney a chance to beat him. Isnt it horrible when the heavyweight division is so sad that a middleweight has to clean it up? Dang I hope this fight gets done so James can Silence all the Klichko fanatics out there.