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As a master technician and an experienced champion, James Toney approached training like Allen Iverson once handled practice, believing he need only show up inside the ring on fight night and victory was his, criticism over his rising weight be damned.
And as a man who tended to back up whatever came out of his mouth, all the while disproving that which came from others, Toney would spew even more trash talk in the process, knowing he could show off and that nobody could shut him up.
Except himself.
There is a new tone to James Toney, a pacification of his former agitation. Frustration, amazingly, can do that to you, reducing brashness and putting a premium on action over words.
After all, the words – as sound bite worthy as usual – had been followed by mixed results since Toney migrated to the heavyweight division in late 2003. A knockout of Evander Holyfield and a decision over Rydell Booker seemed a good start, leading directly into a title victory over John Ruiz. But when Toney tested positive for a banned substance, immediately nullifying his ascension, he took a step down the ladder, and the rise back upward has been the story of a fast talker moving in slow motion.
An easy clinic against Dominick Guinn was followed by a second title shot, but Toney fought to a draw with Hasim Rahman and then lost a split decision to Samuel Peter while waiting for the winner of Rahman-Oleg Maskaev II.
Not every work of art is a masterpiece, but the brilliant minds tend to lay blame on everything and everybody but the only person holding the paintbrush. [details]
And as a man who tended to back up whatever came out of his mouth, all the while disproving that which came from others, Toney would spew even more trash talk in the process, knowing he could show off and that nobody could shut him up.
Except himself.
There is a new tone to James Toney, a pacification of his former agitation. Frustration, amazingly, can do that to you, reducing brashness and putting a premium on action over words.
After all, the words – as sound bite worthy as usual – had been followed by mixed results since Toney migrated to the heavyweight division in late 2003. A knockout of Evander Holyfield and a decision over Rydell Booker seemed a good start, leading directly into a title victory over John Ruiz. But when Toney tested positive for a banned substance, immediately nullifying his ascension, he took a step down the ladder, and the rise back upward has been the story of a fast talker moving in slow motion.
An easy clinic against Dominick Guinn was followed by a second title shot, but Toney fought to a draw with Hasim Rahman and then lost a split decision to Samuel Peter while waiting for the winner of Rahman-Oleg Maskaev II.
Not every work of art is a masterpiece, but the brilliant minds tend to lay blame on everything and everybody but the only person holding the paintbrush. [details]