By James Slater – Well, a 43-year-old, 248-pound version of James Toney had more than enough left to be able to halt a brave but outclassed Bobby Gunn last night in Mississippi. “Lights Out” showed he still has some quick reflexes and a few of his old classy moves as he slowly broke Gunn down over five-rounds.
Finally, after giving it his best shot, Gunn, the reigning bare-knuckle heavyweight champ, remained on his stool at the end of the 5th-round. The official reason given was that of a broken hand sustained by “The Celtic Warrior” in the 4th-round..
Toney, who scored his first stoppage win in almost three years, and his second in over eight years, picked up the vacant IBU heavyweight bauble with his win. “Lights Out” is now 74-7-3(45). 38-year-old Gunn is now 21-5-1(18).
Toney, despite the stoppage win he was able to pick up, looked light years removed from the great fighter he once was. Tagged on more than one occasion by Gunn’s hooks to the head, the former multi-weight king relied on his still-excellent chin to take what did get through. At other times, an advancing Toney showed decent head movement and a pretty fast jab. Toney’s right hand, totally nonexistent in his awful fight with cruiserweight Denis Lebedev, was also a fairly effective weapon against the easy-to-hit Gunn.
Toney, his usual boisterous self after the win, claims he is THE best heavyweight in the world and that “The Bitchko Sisters” are avoiding him. That is utterly ludicrous, but Toney will move ahead to what he hopes will be a bigger fight against a name fighter. Last night’s fight had no TV coverage, a sign of how far the future Hall of Famer has fallen. Should he somehow land himself another major title fight (and don’t bet against it happening, as crazy as it sounds), Toney may wind up back on our screens this year.
Before last night’s victory, Toney said he wanted the Klitschkos, David Haye and then Lebedev again. “Ain’t nuthin’ changed,” he said, with regards to his humbling loss to Lebedev. Toney MAY get himself a few more paydays, but the chances of either the three fights he spoke of taking place are slim to none at best.
There have also been whispers that suggest Toney and 1990s rival (and conqueror) Roy Jones Junior may meet in a return. Gunn wanted a shot at Jones (himself a badly faded version of his former greatness), but Bobby got Toney instead. Just what Toney does next may not be of too much concern to fans who remember him at his dazzling best, but Toney is not going anywhere near retirement quite yet!
James still has enough left to be able to win every round against a tough, but overmatched fighter like Gunn.