13.09.09 – by James Slater, photos by Goossen Tutor Promotions – 41-year-old James “Lights Out” Toney, weighing-in at his lowest weight for a number of years, made his nickname an appropriate one for the first time since 2003 last night, as he destroyed an over-matched Matthew Greer in just two-rounds on the same card as the Andre Ward-Shelby Pudwill bout. After having weighed-in at a poundage slightly above 217, the former middleweight, super-middleweight and cruiserweight ruler made many people believe he is once again deadly serious about his goal of becoming heavyweight champion. Obviously having trained hard for last night’s fight, his 72nd, with 6 losses and 3 draws (44 by KO), Toney then wasted no time at all in making it clear who he wants next.
It’s no secret that “Lights Out” has claimed the two currently reigning heavyweight champions, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, have been shamelessly ducking him for years, and last night the future Hall of Famer again called both giants out..
It doesn’t matter that most fans scoff when Toney makes his ducking claim, the fact is the 41-year-old gets people talking and who knows, maybe he will sufficiently annoy one of the two brothers into signing for a fight with him.
Toney did say that if he were able to lure one of the Klitschkos into the ring with him he’d come in at an even lighter weight that he did last night against Greer.
“When I was heavier, I felt like I was losing my speed and my stamina,” Toney said post-fight. “Even when he hit me I wasn’t hurt. I’m 41-years-old now, but I’m [like] 21 really, and I’m a heavyweight who is fighting like a middleweight. If I can get one of the Klitschko sisters to fight me next, I’ll come in lighter than I did for [Evander] Holyfield (back in October of 2003) – maybe 211 or 210.”
Deep down, Toney must know that a fight with either the IBF and WBO champion or the reigning WBC champion is quite a long shot, and even if such a fight could be arranged it would likely be the middle of next year before it could take place at the earliest – what with both champions having their next one or two fights already worked out (Vitali to take on Chris Arreola and then maybe Kevin Johnson, and Wladimir out until next year, when he will likely face Eddie Chambers).
What’s more likely for Toney is a number of further Greer-type match-ups, in which he will keep busy and hopefully remain in shape. And as for a shot against the winner of the WBA title fight between Nikolai Valuev and David Haye – forget it!