James Toney goes to war part 1

Thanks I enjoyed that piece. Looking forward to part II. I could've sworn I watced that fight for free on HBO. Toney made major headlines in the Detroit media after this fight. I remember that James Toney was riding around Detroit with a loaded 9mm, he said he was going to blow Jackie Kallens brains out. Kallen, who had previously worked as Tommy Hearns publicist, asked Hearns to appear at a press conference at her home to ask Toney to not harm her or her sons. Tommy was able to get in touch with Toney, he calmed him down and everything worked out, although I do believe Toney fired Kallen after this bout.

 

Toney should feel no shame in knowing he lost to arguably the best SMW head-to-head EVER on that night. Jones at 168 was flat-out BEAST.

 

Very interesting read.
THanks.

 

This wasn't Roys first fight at SMW. In fact Roy himself had trouble making the SMW limit for this fight if I remember correctly. He also had one of his hands injured during his camp.
But hey, hadn't it been cool if Roy and Toney met at the McDonalds after that fight, with Toney comforting himself with burgers... oh, I forgot, Toney was all Burger King Baby!
Man, Roy going for a 3mile run right after such a fight is crazy! If only Toney had had half the discipline of a Roy Jones or a Bernard Hopkins...

 

BTW, thanks to the TS, it's a good read.
I still can't understand how Toney let himself blow up to 200+ lbs in between fights... But we mustn't forget that Toney already came down from over 200lbs to start his pro career as a MW, and that he always had trouble making weight.
He underestimated Jones a lot though. Thought he could just KO him.. If Toney wouldn't have been so weight-drained, I think he would have given Roy a much tougher fight, though Roy has just the right style to beat any version of Toney.
And it happened all over again in Toneys next fight: he killed himself to make the 175lbs limit - he already moved up to LHW - and then wasn't at his best against Montell Griffin and lost again (although in my and in most peoples books he did enough to get the nod..).

 

If any ESB readers havent read Dark Trade, go buyit now!

 

Toney has an eating disorder. For real. The man is sick.

 

Real nice read :good

 

Tremendous Book is Dark Trade: Lost in Boxing. Toney comes off very much the anti hero he portrays himself as in the media: old school, good for boxing, but highly egotistical and tempremental.

Love him as a fighter. Far preferred him to Jones.

 

well, my experience is that Toney is the friendliest, nicest guy around, with a great sense of humour - as long as you're cool with him. And he's got time for all of his fans, he's very approachable, no star allures whatsoever. But he's a bit crazy and got a hot temperament, so you better not step on his toes - especially if you're a boxer. But he's a good-natured guy. Oh, and he really got an eating disorder - he's snacking all the time.