15.06.08 – by James Slater, Photo Jan Sanders / Goossen Tutor – Most experts agree that James Toney’s finest heavyweight performance came in his 2003 fight with Evander Holyfield. On that occasion, Toney was a relatively svelte (for him as a heavyweight, anyway) 217 pounds and he looked good. But then, in subsequent heavyweight fights, Tony weighed-in at around the 230-240 pound mark and looked less than fit as a result.
Well, according to a recent article on Daileybreeze.com, “Lights Out” is looking the best he’s looked with regards to his weight since the Holyfield fight. Toney and his next opponent Hasim Rahman were in Sherman Oaks just before the weekend to attend a news conference to formally announce their July 16th rematch fight.. Apparently, Toney, now almost 40-years-of-age, looked “nearly as thin as he did in the Holyfield fight.” This is good news.
Toney has never been a guy to train hard and enjoy it, at least not recently, but it seems he has knuckled down for the Rahman fight – a bout that may well be the former champion’s last shot at the big time.
With regards to his first fight with Hasim Rahman, back in March of 2006, Toney admitted he had not been in top shape.
“I didn’t put 100 percent into training, as you saw in the fight,” Toney said. “[But] if I’m going to do this 110 percent, I gotta do it 110 percent because time, as I always say, is running out.”
Toney has reportedly hired a nutritionist and is lifting only smaller weights and doing more reps with them. James has been enjoying working out once again, too.
“I’m happy again,” the 39-year-old said. “I like going to the gym again. I like running again, believe it or not. It’s a great thing.”
When asked about why he hadn’t trained like he should have done in the past, Toney was forthright with his answer.
“I got lazy and lackadaisical,” Toney said. “I can’t blame Dan Goossen, I can’t blame Freddie Roach, I can’t blame my wife, I can’t blame my kids. I can only blame James Toney.”
It may be too late, but is seems Toney has finally realised what he must do BEFORE he steps into the ring. Only getting by in fights due to his enormous skill level and ring savvy in the past, it looks as though “Lights Out” will be going into July’s contest in condition to be able to attempt to fight hard for the full 12 rounds.
It’s about time!