James Toney reminds me of a line from the movie A Bronx Tale. When Robert Dinero tells his son 'there is nothing in the world worst than wasted talent'. Toney is tough, smart, defensively superior fighter and an excellent counter puncher. Conversely, he has a poor diet, doesn't run or exercise, smokes cigars constantly and very stubborn fighter. If Lights Out would have remained at super middle or light heavyweight he could have dominated for years. His back to back losses to Jones Jr and Montell Griffin in 11/04 and 02/05 respectively exposed Toney's lack of commitment to training. James admits he only likes to spar, which is why he is a blown up lightweight fighting at heavyweight with great hand speed and god given skills with no power to hurt the bigger and naturally stronger fighters in the heavyweight division. Dedication and hard work would have propelled Toney to status of one of the all time greats, he had all the tools. Hand speed, power,defense, heart and ring intelligence. But he refused to diet, exercise and run to stay at his natural weight, this led to the demise of a now older Toney( turns 40 in August) who can not rely on god given talent anymore. Fathertime and pure laziness has finally caught up with the under achieving James 'lights out' Toney. The sun has set on a GOOD career by Mr Toney, its just saddens me knowing he had the capabilities to have GREAT career.
What could have been was. Where were you in the late 80's and early 90's? Nobody has a better resume than James Toney. He took on everybody. Then to have a layoff, come back a decade after his first belt at middleweight and beat the best Cruiserweight in the world, Jirov, is remarkable. Toney's career was absolutely great. There are blemishes, but every fight resume has some blemishes. Toney's talent wasn't wasted, he used it more than fighters today that fight once or twice a year do.