James Toney Interview (New)

James "Lights Out" Toney Interview "Lights Out" talks about his weight, the Rahman fight, the rest of the heavyweight division and his future plans! March 1, 2006 FF: FightFan.com is here with James Toney… JT: (cutting in) Heavyweight Champion of the World James “Lights Out” Toney. FF: How’s training camp going Champ? JT: Going good, you know we’ve already been at it for 8 weeks. I’ve lost some weight… FF: You’re looking good, what are you weighing right now? JT: I weigh 260. FF: What weight do you expect to come in at against Hasim Rahman, which is coming coming up in a few weeks? JT: 217… 220. Around there. You know everyone expects me to be in the shape I was when I fought Ruiz. But everybody needs to understand when I fought Ruiz I was coming off another injury. I hurt my arm here… FF: You had also hurt your Achilles hadn’t you? JT: Naw, the Achilles was my first injury that I came back from to fight Rydell Booker. It was that fight that I hurt my bicep and triceps. Then I came back and beat Ruiz so easily with one arm. That’s when they say I was taking steroids, but I’ll tell you, if I was taking steroids and my body looked like that… I’d put the company out of business. FF: How’s the arm now? JT: The arm is feeling better. I went through the healing process and when I fought Dominic Guinn I felt pretty good. I feel strong, and for the first time in a few years, since the Holyfield fight, I’ve had a full camp. FF: So how does everything feel now as far as the body goes? JT: Oh man the body’s feeling Healthy. You know Freddy will tell me to pick it up and I’ll pick it up. I’m just excited. I’m amped up for this fight. FF: Does anything about Hasim Rahman worry you? JT: Not at all. Did you ask Freddy that same question? FF: Yea. JT: And what’d Freddy tell you. FF: That you’re going to take him to school. JT: (Smiles approvingly) The only thing I’m worried about is him making it to the fight. I want the fight to happen. I’m excited man. I mean I’m fighting for a legitimate Heavyweight Championship against a legitimate fighter… Rest of the interview

Comments (20)

I have had leg troubles b4 and have competed in the ams........believe me it will effect Toney........He cant plant himself as much as he would like to on his feet.......cant drive his punches, fancy footwork hurts......running and hitting bags is painfull becuase your legs arent 100%, this is how is was for me.........trust me....a boxers legs are VERY important .....more then his arms in some ways in terms of power! He's had two fights since coming back from the injury, and has said it doesn't bother him. He was throwing 70 -80 punches agaisnt Guinn in the championship rounds of that fight, digging and planting his feet. And like I said earlier, he doesn't have fancy footwork. He walks around the ring with little effort. It's not a factor for him, and it happned two years ago.

20y ago

pornlando

I don't think it's a big issue for Toney, because he's relativly flat footed in the ring and paces and stalks. If he was big on footwork he'd have more trouble, but as it is I think he'll be okay. I have had leg troubles b4 and have competed in the ams........believe me it will effect Toney........He cant plant himself as much as he would like to on his feet.......cant drive his punches, fancy footwork hurts......running and hitting bags is painfull becuase your legs arent 100%, this is how is was for me.........trust me....a boxers legs are VERY important .....more then his arms in some ways in terms of power!

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

Toney is the man, I'll give him that. It fuckin stings. Actually, when it initially happens, it doesn't really hurt. When you tear your achilles, you hear a loud pop and it feels like someone threw a rock or tennis ball at your achilles. The worst feeling is when you're in a cast. When the tendon is healing, it feels like someone is grinding away at it with a saw. I only post my concern about Toney because I've gone through the injury and have seen pro atheletes never return to where they where before they suffered it. I don't think it's a big issue for Toney, because he's relativly flat footed in the ring and paces and stalks. If he was big on footwork he'd have more trouble, but as it is I think he'll be okay.

20y ago

the_traveler

Not true. James Toney has magical powers. He can overcome anything. Toney is the man, I'll give him that. It's very true, most people never recover 100% after an ACL tear. Any tear of the ligaments, MCL, ACL, etc. just don't regain 100% ability. Everyone I've known whose torn it has said it's one of the most painful experiences ever. It fuckin stings. Actually, when it initially happens, it doesn't really hurt. When you tear your achilles, you hear a loud pop and it feels like someone threw a rock or tennis ball at your achilles. The worst feeling is when you're in a cast. When the tendon is healing, it feels like someone is grinding away at it with a saw. I only post my concern about Toney because I've gone through the injury and have seen pro atheletes never return to where they where before they suffered it.

20y ago

joeboxer8983

It doesn't matter if he your an average joe with an 1000 dollar surgery compared to a James Toney with a 2000 dollar surgery and access to top notch medical treatment, the fact still remains that it is hard for ANYONE to overcome. Not true. James Toney has magical powers. He can overcome anything.

20y ago

the_traveler

The reasoning is this: comparing your recupertive abilities to that of a world class athlete is idiotic. Apart from the actual "athelte" part of it, they have access to personell, medicine, and treamtment that you couldn't get on your best day My point in pointing out my injury is to explain how damaging the tear was to me even though I had alot of treatment done to it. And how would you know what I've done to recupe from the injury? The real idiotic thing is you making the statement with absolutely no knowledge of who I am or what the fuck it is that I do. I know that I may not have had nearly as much treatment done to my injury as Toney did, but the point is that there is only so much treatment that you can do to an injury like that. More often that not, the athelete will never be the same no matter how much work is done. It doesn't matter if he your an average joe with an 1000 dollar surgery compared to a James Toney with a 2000 dollar surgery and access to top notch medical treatment, the fact still remains that it is hard for ANYONE to overcome.

20y ago

Truth8215

Today? 245. I bet he comes into the fight at 233. Hes still saying 217, but hes must be kidding.

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

Bnono, how much do you predict Toney weighs right now? Today? 245. I bet he comes into the fight at 233.

20y ago

Truth8215

Bnono, how much do you predict Toney weighs right now?

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

it was b4 vitali retired Say what? :cool:

20y ago

Truth8215

James Toney is going to take the crown March 18th...

20y ago

realheavyhands

It's to his advantage to call Rahman a serious threat, but in reality I don't think he can be called that. it was b4 vitali retired

20y ago

josenoway

It's very true, most people never recover 100% after an ACL tear. Any tear of the ligaments, MCL, ACL, etc. just don't regain 100% ability. Everyone I've known whose torn it has said it's one of the most painful experiences ever. What does that have to do with anything? What because he's a professional boxer, somehow an achilles tendon tear means nothing to him? Don't be stupid. Anyone with knowledge of science knows how brutal the injury is. I've talked to a few doctors and they're all of the opinion that it's one of the hardest injuries for an athlete to overcome. It doesn't matter who the fuck you are, it's a tough injury. Dan Marino, Vinny Testaverdi, Harold Minor, and a alot of other atheletes have suffered the injury only to never have the same jumping ability or speed that they did prior to it. I don't get the reasoning behind your post.

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

It's to his advantage to call Rahman a serious threat, but in reality I don't think he can be called that.

20y ago

realheavyhands

if toney beats rahman he should be p4p #1 ..even at 217 he carries at least 30lbs of fat rahman bench presses 500 pounds ...after the guinn fight they asked toney who he wanted he said klit ,theyasked him who's the best he said himself, they asked beside himself klit?he said he thinks rahmans a little bit better

20y ago

UntouchableM2

Rahman finna hurt some boys feelings come March 18th...... :boxing:

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

He's fought Ruiz and Guinn since then, and has said it hasn't bothered him in that time, so I think he's okay. He mentions in this interview he's as healthy as he's been since the Holyfield fight.

20y ago

the_traveler

yeah an achilles injury is the worst, if your a footie player thats pretty much you finished, but boxing is different, you don't run flat out for large periods of time. I wouldn't really say so. In boxing, you use your legs alot, especially for gaining power in your punches. Also, your going to exert alot of pressure on that tendon when in a stance. Hope he's 100 percent from it, though.

20y ago

Bozo_no_no0305

He's fought Ruiz and Guinn since then, and has said it hasn't bothered him in that time, so I think he's okay. He mentions in this interview he's as healthy as he's been since the Holyfield fight.

20y ago

Crumble

yeah an achilles injury is the worst, if your a footie player thats pretty much you finished, but boxing is different, you don't run flat out for large periods of time.

20y ago