12.04.07 – By Ben Yap: You gotta love James Toney. Here’s a guy that stepped up to fight the best the Heavyweight division has to offer. He hasn’t taken on tomato can after tomato can, but instead he has consistently fought top 10 fighters including a boxing legend in Evander Holyfield. But where does he go from here?
He fought Sam Peter, one of the top fighters around who just keeps getting better and better. But at this stage, time could be running for Toney as father time catches up.
George Foreman did it, and to an extent Shannon Briggs has proven that it ain’t over till it’s over. Like Rocky says in the new Rocky movie, it isn’t how hard you hit but how hard you are hit and keep getting up. So if James Toney thinks he has what it takes he should keep going. Who knows we may well see a rematch between him and another no quit fighter in Holyfield.
James Toney has proven he belongs in the heavyweight division. Sure he lost his last fight to Sam Peter, but Sam Peter is one of the top young fighters out there. If anything, it shows you that James Toney doesn’t cheat the fans. With his legendary boxing status he could have easily fought hand picked opponents but instead he wanted to and has proven himself against the top contenders of the division. He is a fight fan’s fighter.
Roy Jones Jr. won the heavyweight boxing belt but he didn’t really win over true fight fans. A champion fights the best. I think James Toney has already proven himself to be the people’s champ in a sense for his willingness to fight anyone and everyone, from legends like Holyfield to up and comers like Peter. If he ends up winning the belts that would be the icing on the cake but in the meanwhile he has been people’s champ in the sense that he gives fight fans real fights, by taking on the best available opposition.