James Toney Interview (New)

[Bozo_no no]

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.

[Note: He winked and smiled when he said this, and looked to be lighter than he said. I'm pretty sure he was lying.]



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

[Lights0ut]

James Toney is the baddest, and best heavyweight out there. He's the best fighter period. And he'll prove it yet again on March 18th.

[DiegoFuego]

James Toney, two-time Heavyweight Champ of the world come March 18th!!

[Bozo_no no]

I liked the part where he touched on fighting Valuev or Wlad or one of the bigger heavyweights:

FF: A lot of the Heavyweight out there don’t seem like they’d present much of a problem for you outside of some of the guys who are much bigger than you. Guys like Klitschko and Valuev are bigger than anyone you’ve ever fought. How do you deal with giving away that much height and reach to these big guys?

JT: Everyone’s always talking about how it’s a disadvantage. I’ve got the advantage. I’m short, so they have to punch down at me. They can’t see me and it throws off their reach. I’m out of site and out of mind. They don’t know where I’m going to be at. I’m going to be here I’m going to be there. I look at it like this: If they got the balls to fight me, I’ll be there.

If he beats Rahman and Wlad beats Byrd, that's the fight I want to see.

[Derranged]

I liked the part where he touched on fighting Valuev or Wlad or one of the bigger heavyweights:


If he beats Rahman and Wlad beats Byrd, that's the fight I want to see.

Who do you think would win-Wlad vs Toney

[Bozo_no no]

I'd like to see how they both look in their next fights but I think James beats anyone at Heavyweight right now if he's healthy.

I think Wlad will have trouble finding him flush, James will work the body and take away his jab.

[Derranged]

Toney has a style that suits Wlad, a counterpuncher but not a big puncher at this weight. He's kinda like Byrd. Wlad only seems to stuggle against aggressive heavy hitters. But, ya never know.

[the traveler]

I tore my achilles tendon a couple years ago like Toney did, and let me tell you, it's one of the worst injuries that an athlete can have. I don't think he'll ever be the same as he was before the injury.

[Bozo_no no]

Toney has a style that suits Wlad, a counterpuncher but not a big puncher at this weight. He's kinda like Byrd. Wlad only seems to stuggle against aggressive heavy hitters. But, ya never know.

That's why it will be interesting to see how Wlad fairs agaisnt Byrd in that rematch.

Byrd went the distance with Wlad, and Toney has just as much (if not more) chin, is just as tough to hit (maybe even tougher) than Byrd, and carries a better punch.

It's a very compeitive fight, and I think too many people write James off because he's small and doesn't carry a Brewster like punch.

I really hope we find out.

[drez24]

Does anyone happen to have a recent (within the last week or so) pic of Toney? I'm curious to see what he's looking like these days, and would be impressed if he came in at 217. Bozo or Zab Super Judah, I'm looking in your direction.