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JAMES “Lights Out” TONEY (70-6-3-1, 43 KOs)
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At the age of 37, James is a 17-year pro. The former IBF middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight world champion, James is a future Hall of Famer. He won the WBA heavyweight world title last April 30 with a 12-round decision against defending champion John Ruiz , but James tested positive in the post-fight drug test for the steroid nandrolone. The New York State Athletic Commission suspended him for 90 days and fined him $10,000. The result was changed to No Decision, and James was stripped of the title. James had torn the biceps and triceps muscles in his left arm in his September 23, 2003, fight against Rydell Booker , and underwent surgery two days later. He was prescribed medication shortly after the surgery, and his arm was in a cast until the following January. Promoter Dan Goossen said, “James received medical treatment for recovery from his biceps and triceps surgery last year. His doctor has stated that the combination of medications used to control the inflammation and tissue growth caused the positive test result. This is further supported since the body, in combination with the medications, naturally creates the form of substance reflected in the test results. It is simply not true that James either tried to cheat or even cheated without knowing it.” James said, “Being accused of taking performance enhancing substances is an insult to me. I don't do drugs, period. I've never used any illegal substances to prepare myself for a fight. I don't need to cheat, my strength is my skills. People don't remember that I weighed 205 pounds in high school 20 years ago. I put on weight last year because I had nothing to do but sit on my fat butt. “If I'm on steroids, then I'll put every steroid company out of business because I was a fat bastard for the Ruiz fight. “I have always been ready to fight anybody out there, any time, anywhere. I will knock them all over. My talent speaks for itself.” James is undefeated in his last 15 fights - 14-0, 1 ND - dating back to June, 1997. His two wins in 2003 - against former four-time heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield and IBF cruiserweight world champion Vassilliy Jirov - were among the most significant of his career and earned James the “2003 Fighter of the Year” award by The Ring Magazine. James was also The Ring's “Fighter of the Year” in 1991. He said, “I'm a much better fighter now than I was then, because number one, I'm more serious about my game. Back then, I wasn't. I would train, but it was half-assed. I would be in a hurry to go sit in a club or something like that. Now, I take better care of my body than I did before. Plus, I'm fighting more hungry. “I developed my style by watching tapes of old fighters. I watched Ezzard Charles and Jersey Joe Walcott constantly, and Tommy Hearns , Marvin Hagler . I learned a lot from watching these guys and studying. Some of it just comes naturally. “After I turned pro, I was living in Ann Arbor and Greg Owens , who started me out, we would go down to all the best gyms in the city to see where's the best opposition. If you got good opposition, great, I want to see, show me something. I spent a lot of time at the Kronk gym, that's where you learn your trade, that's how you learn to become a fighter, going to the trenches. If you can fight there, you can fight anywhere in the world. That's why most fighters in the world, fighters from the east coast and west, when they come to Kronk, they got into a do-or-die situation, they can't survive in there. De La Hoya came in there, he didn't last but a couple of days. Even Evander Holyfield didn't last too long. I thought he would last longer than he did, but he didn't. Kronk is not only in the basement, it's in a nasty neighborhood. It's hot as hell and that's how I like it. I was down there kicking ass.” James has beaten former world champions Evander Holyfield (TKO9), Vassiliy Jirov (W12), Adolpho Washington (TKO10) , Steve Little (W12) , Mike McCallum twice (W12, W12, and D12), Charles Williams (KO12) , Iran Barkley (TKO9) , Doug DeWitt (TKO6) , Reggie Johnson (W12) , and Michael Nunn (TKO11) Regarding his nickname, James said, “Greg Owens, he had gave it to me. We were going through a roll of nicknames when I turned professional. He said everybody got ‘Too Sweet' and names like that. So he heard this song called ‘Lights Out' or something like that, and it just stuck ever since then.” Key Fights - 2005 - WON WBA H WORLD TITLE, RESULT CHANGED TO NO DECISION - in his last fight on 4-30-05 in New York, NY, he won a 12 round unanimous decision against defending champion John Ruiz (41-5-1): the fight headlined at Madison Square Garden, and drew an announced crowd of 9,169; it was a good fight, and the early rounds were close - after six rounds, the judges scored 58-56, 58-56 Ruiz, 57-57; but James rallied in the second half of the fight - he scored a knockdown in the 7 th round, and swept rounds seven, eight, and nine on all three scorecards; he then swept rounds 11 and 12 on all three scorecards, and won by scores of 116-111, 116-111, 115-112; after the fight, James said, “I only had 4 ½ weeks to prepare for this fight. I didn't expect much from Ruiz because he is an average fighter. Don King should take Ruiz and throw him in the garbage can where he belongs. I knew I would win if I just put my mind to it. You know I worked hard. If I had the proper time, I probably would have knocked him out. He wasn't in that good of a shape and I wasn't in tiptop shape, but I still had what it took.”… 2004 - WBC ELIMINATION BOUT FOR NO. 1 RANKING - on 9-23-04 in Temecula, CA, he won a 12 round decision against previously undefeated prospect Rydell Booker (22-0): James dominated most of the fight; he consistently outworked Booker, rocked him repeatedly, and scored a knockdown in the 8 th round; scored 120-107, 118-109, 117-110; after the fight, James said, “I hurt my left arm in the first round, but I'm a warrior. You don't play boxing. You play basketball, you play football. You don't play fighting with me.”… 2003 - on 10-4-03 in Las Vegas, NV, he TKO'd former four-time heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield (38-6-2): James weighed 217, his highest in 19 months, but was very impressive; Holyfield started fast - he rocked James late in the 1 st round, and landed a hard right hand in the 3 rd , but James dominated the rest of the fight; he kept a busier pace and was the more accurate puncher; he frustrated Holyfield with effective upper-body movement and rocked him in nearly every round - sometimes repeatedly - and bloodied his mouth in the 8 th ; James scored a knockdown in the 9 th round with a series of punches and Holyfield's corner stopped the fight at 1:42; after eight rounds, James led by scores of 78-74, 78-74, 77-75; after the fight, James said, “My talent speaks for itself. Evander Holyfield is a great fighter and I used to watch him when I was a kid, but I had to do what I had to do. I did what I get paid to do. I really only got my butt whipped one time in this world. That's when I came into this world and the doctor slapped me on my butt.”… WON IBF C WORLD TITLE - on 4-26-03 in Mashantucket, CT, he won a 12 round decision against previously undefeated defending champion Vassiliy Jirov (31-0): it was an exciting fight; Jirov started fast, but James rallied in the middle rounds and dominated the second half of the fight; James bloodied Jirov's nose in the 5 th and Jirov was penalized one point for low blows in the 8 th ; James scored a knockdown late in the 12 th round; most observers thought the fight was close, but the judges scored 117-109, 117-109, 116-110; after the fight, James said, “It feels great to be champion again, it's been a long time coming. I should have knocked him out. I got all the strength in the world. I can fight anybody, anywhere. That right hand was something terrible. I came with an uppercut and hooked to the body. He was taking my punches, but I hit too hard. It's like a Mack truck behind a 190-pound body.”; trainer Freddie Roach commented, “I've been waiting a long time for James to wake up, since the Roy Jones fight. He really got motivated for this fight.”… 2002 - IBF C TITLE ELIMINATOR - on 8-18-02 in Temecula , CA , he knocked out Jason Robinson (16-2): James scored a knockdown with a right hand late in the 5 th round; he knocked down Robinson again with a left hook in the 7 th and he was counted out at 2:47… On 5-31-02 in Lincoln , OR , he TKO'd Michael Rush (23-5-1): James pressed forward, outworked Rush, and dominated the fight; Rush rallied in the 5 th and 6 th rounds, but James came back strongly, staggered Rush in the 10 th round, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:10… On 3-22-02 in Phoenix , AZ , he won a 10 round unanimous decision against Sione Asipeli (17-3-2): James dominated the fight with a busier pace and consistently landed the harder punches; scored 100-90, 100-90, 99-91; after the fight, James said, “ I've been off for eight months, but that's no excuse. I'd give myself a C+. The inactivity, the rest, the guy was strong, but that's what I need to get back into top condition. I don't like going the distance. I call myself ‘Lights Out' because that's what I do. I'll give a better show the next time around.”… 2001 - on 7-20-01 in Compton , CA , he knocked out Wesley Martin (13-29-8): James scored two knockdowns in the 1 st round and another in the 2 nd ; he punched out Martin's mouthpiece in the 3 rd , and Martin was on his way to the canvas again when the referee stopped the fight at 1:08 of the 3 rd … On 3-29-01 in Detroit , MI , he knocked out former two-time world title challenger Saul Montana (34-9): James knocked down Montana with a left hook in the 2 nd round, and he was counted out at 2:26; after the fight, James said, “I caught him with a great hook and twisted his head around. That's all it took. I felt pretty good. I've been doing the movies and trying to train at the same time, so it was kind of hard. And I've had a couple of injuries along the way. Everything's happy here. I've got a new wife, new kids. Me and Freddie Roach, this team is No. 1, baby. Can't nobody stop us.”… 2000 – on 11-3-00 in Verona , NY , he TKO'd Courtney Butler (20-4-2): James scored a knockdown in the 3 rd round and the referee stopped the fight at 1:14… On 1-21-00 in Chicago , IL , he won a 10 round majority decision against former U.S. National amateur champion Terry McGroom (18-1-2): James was the sharper puncher and bloodied McGroom's nose, but McGroom outhustled James at times and made it a very close fight; scored 96-94, 96-94, 95-95; the crowd booed the announcement of the decision… 1999 - on 10-8-99 in Taunton , MA , he won a 10 round unanimous decision against former Cuban amateur star Ramon Garbey (14-1): James gave a good performance, was sharper and busier throughout and won by decisive scores of 99-91, 98-92, 98-93… On 7-30-99 in Ledyard , CT , he TKO'd former IBF cruiserweight world champion Adolpho Washington (27-7-2): James kept a busy pace, dominated every round, and stopped Washington at 0:52 of the 10 th … On 3-7-99 in Phoenix , AZ , he TKO'd Terry Porter (11-3-2): James returned to the ring after 20 months off; he scored a knockdown in the 1 st round, dominated the fight, and stopped Porter at 2:09 of the 8 th round… 1997 - on 6-14-97 in Biloxi, MS, he won a 12 round unanimous decision against former WBA super middleweight champion Steve Little (24-13-2): Little gave a determined effort in the early rounds, but James eventually took control and won by decisive scores of 119-110, 119-110, 116-114… On 5-14-97 in Ledyard he lost a 12 round majority decision against Drake Thadzi (28-8-1): James was in poor condition - the fight was supposed to be for a vacant minor light heavyweight title, but James was overweight and they fought for the vacant cruiserweight title; Thadzi consistently outworked James and rocked him several times; scored 116-112, 116-113 Thadzi, 114-114… On 2-22-97 in Uncasville, CT, he won a 12 round unanimous decision against former three-time world champion Mike McCallum (49-4-1): it was their third fight; the first two had been close, exciting battles between respected champions, resulting in a draw and a decision win for James; but this one was sloppy and both were out of shape; the fight was originally scheduled for a minor light heavyweight title, but again, James was overweight and they fought for the cruiserweight title; scored 117-111, 115-113, 115-113… 1996 - on 12-6-96 in Reno, NV, James lost a 12 round unanimous decision in the rematch against Montell Griffin (25-0): Griffin kept a busier pace, but James landed the harder punches; scored 116-112, 116-112, 119-109 Griffin… On 8-9-96 in Bay St. Louis, MS, James knocked out Duran Williams (16-1-1): James staggered Williams in the 1 st round, but he recovered and outhustled James for several rounds; but James rallied in the 6 th , scored knockdowns in the 8 th and 9 th rounds and Williams was counted out at 2:06 of the 9 th … On 5-14-96 in Ledyard he TKO'd Earl Butler (16-7-2): James knocked down Butler and scored a standing-8 count in the 3 rd round; he rocked Butler several times in the 4 th round and the referee stopped the fight 0:46… On 3-1-96 in Indio , CA , he won a 10 round decision against journeyman Richard Mason (21-4-1)… 1995 - on 12-8-95 in Ledyard he knocked out Greg Everett (21-2) in the 2 nd round… On 9-9-95 in Las Vegas, NV, he won by disqualification against Ernest Mateen (23-4-1) in the 5 th round… On 6-18-95 in New Orleans , LA , he TKO'd Fred Delgado (21-3-1) in the 5 th round… WON USBA LH TITLE - on 4-30-95 in Las Vegas he TKO'd former U.S. Olympian Anthony Hembrick (29-6-1) in the 5 th round… On 3-20-95 in Auburn Hills , MI , he stopped Karl Willis (21-2-1) in the 8 th round… On 2-18-95 in Las Vegas he lost a 12-round majority decision against Montell Griffin (14-0): the fight was very close and many observers thought James deserved to win, but the judges scored 116-112, 115-113 Griffin , 114-114… 1994 - LOST IBF SM WORLD TITLE - on 11-18-94 in Las Vegas James lost a 12 round unanimous decision against former middleweight champion Roy Jones Jr. (26-0): it was a battle of undefeated superstars, but Jones dominated the fight; he frustrated James with movement and outworked him, and scored a knockdown in the 3 rd round; scored 119-108, 118-109, 117-110; looking back, James said, “ It used to bother me. But everybody knew what happened. I wasn't in shape. If I were in shape I would have knocked him out. But you know boxing. You've got to shake it off. Real boxing fans know what would have happened if I had been prepared. I don't worry about it.”… 1993 - 3 RD IBF SM WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 7-29-94 in Las Vegas he TKO'd former IBF light heavyweight champion Prince Charles Williams (36-5-2): James was penalized one point in the 8 th round for punching after the bell, but dominated the late rounds and stopped Williams at 2:45 of the 12 th ; after 11 rounds, James led by scores of 106-102, 106-102, 105-103… 2 ND IBF SM WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 3-5-94 in Los Angeles, CA, he TKO'd Tim Littles (24-0): James gave a sensational performance – he was badly cut over the eye in the 3 rd round and was told by the by the ringside doctor that the fight would be stopped after one more round; James fought ferociously in the 4 th , scored three knockdowns and stopped Littles at 1:03… 1 ST IBF SM WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 10-29-93 in Tulsa , OK , he won a 12 round unanimous decision against Tony Thornton (35-5-1), scored 118-110, 118-110, 116-112… WON IBF SM WORLD TITLE - on 2-13-93 in Las Vegas he TKO'd defending champion Iran Barkley (30-7): James dominated the fight and stopped Barkley on cuts in the 9 th round; after eight rounds, James led by scores of 89-82 on all three scorecards… 1992 - 6 TH IBF M WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 8-29-92 in in Reno he won a 12 round majority decision in the rematch against Mike McCallum , scored 117-110, 117-110, 114-114; James then vacated the title to move up in weight… 5 TH IBF M WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 4-11-92 in Las Vegas he won a 12 round unanimous decision against Glenn Wolfe (27-2-1), scored 119-109, 118-110, 117-111… 4 TH IBF M WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 2-8-92 in Atlantic City , NJ , he won a split decision against Dave Tiberi (22-2-3): James gave a lethargic performance and Tiberi outworked him in several rounds; but the judges scored 115-112, 115-112 Toney, 117-111 Tiberi; the controversy started a U.S. Senate investigation of boxing… 1991 - 3 RD IBF M WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 12-13-91 in Atlantic City he fought to a 12 round draw against Mike McCallum (42-1), scored 116-112 Toney, 115-113 McCallum, 114-114… 2 ND IBF M WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 10-12-91 in Monte Carlo he knocked out Francesco Dell' Aquila (31-1-1) in the 4 th round… 1 ST IBF M WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - on 6-29-91 in Las Vegas James won a 12 round unanimous decision against Reggie Johnson (29-1-1): it was a very close fight; Johnson scored a knockdown in the 2 nd round – it was the first time James had been down in his career - and after six rounds, Johnson led by scores of 58-55, 58-55, 57-56; but James dominated the second half of the fight and won by scores of 114-113, 114-113, 115-112; Johnson went on to win the WBA middleweight and IBF light heavyweight world titles… WON IBF M WORLD TITLE - on 5-10-91 in Davenport , IA , he knocked out defending champion Michael Nunn (36-0): it was a spectacular come-from-behind win; Nunn outboxed James and dominated the fight, but James scored two knockdowns in the 11 th round and stopped Nunn at 2:14; after ten rounds, Nunn led by scores of 99-91, 98-92, 97-93… He debuted at the age of 20 on 10-26-88 and went 25-0-1 before winning the IBF middleweight world title… AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: James was born and raised in Grand Rapids , Michigan …he said, “My mom took me to the gym because I was getting into street fights. She tried to teach me a lesson. The lesson was a good one, because I whipped the guy's ass the first day. He had 14 amateur fights, I was 10 years old. “I had 35 amateur fights altogether, 33 wins, two losses. Boxing has always been a big deal for me, but at the time I wanted to be a football player, too. I wanted to be both. I was a two-sport athlete. When school was in, I played football, when it was over I fell back on boxing. “Football is my favorite sport, always has been, always will be. I love that sport, I love the contact. In high school, I played quarterback and free safety. I had a scholarship offer to play defensive back at University of Michigan and one to play quarterback at Western Michigan . But I wasn't good at taking orders, having that coach in my face, yelling at me all the time. I didn't like none of that. “I play the John Madden video game. No one can beat me at it. I haven't lost in three years.”…James graduated from high school in 1987… James is married; he said, "We had our first little boy on August 3, 2003. Altogether, I have six kids. Five girls and one boy." STRENGTHS: Has exceptional skills…at his best, he stays in close range, frustrates his opponents with effective upper-body and head movement, and wears them down with sharp, accurate two-handed combinations to the head and body…has good punching power in both hands…an exceptional counterpuncher…physically strong and durable, has a solid chin…is very smart in the ring…is experienced against top opposition… Achievements |
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Copyright © 2005 by Jerry Rouse  for James Toney "Lights Out Boxing" |
