you can see the desperation in his eyes when he says he'll fight anyone in boxing, kickboxing or MMA. he knows his time has passed and the opportunities for a good payday are passed but he is trying to convince the public and more importantly himself that he still has it and everyone else is just avoiding him, when really he's just fading out of existence and out of the relevant part of the sport. The ignorant, arrogant but brave fighter's heart he always had cant hide the pain inside because he knows that even if he wanted to there isnt much else he could do other than keep participating in the sport that takes a part of him everytime he steps into the ring, to provide for himself and his children. Toney's speech is even worse now, and the interviewer seems to use toney's punchyness as a sick kind of entertainment for his followers. Atleast toney is getting some kind of exposure. Many people may forget about old warriors like Toney when they retire, turning a blind eye to the fact that within just a few years they are worse off than they started because now theyve lost both their health and their youth. Joe louis ended up with mental health issues as a casino greeter, Ali....well you know the story This content is protected
The only thing Toney has left is his pride, but shot fighters often take beatings just for the money. Danny Williams once described what he was doing as "prostituting his body so his daughters could go to school" I love this sport but it is sickening how boxing devours it's own. Veterans are fed to prospects who get old and get fed to prospects. These guys deserve a retirement fund! Maybe a small part of their purse over a certain amount like 5% of anything 1 million and over should be withheld and placed into a fighter's "retirement fund" I died a little bit inside when he said "42 is the new 22"
Sadly Contro Cooney tried years ago . Nearly 30 years nothing done. Too much greed in boxing. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...and-mike-tyson-boxing-marvelous-marvin-hagler
I understand the **** with all the sanctioning bodies that they all want their fees and that the promoters love to have different belts so someone can be a "champion" without having to get tested. I dont like it but i get it. But the retirement fund is one things those greedy POS should be able to get done, they got the ali act done didn't they?
While I definitely feel sorry for disabled fighters who end up "broke" some of it is their own doing. Yes there are those who got screwed by their own attorneys, brokers, etc who stole their money like Felix Trinidad who trusted a 60 million dollar fortune with a Friend who proceeded to lose every penny. But many of them go bankrupt through the making of irresponsible decisions and spending habits like bad investments, multiple marriages and divorces, buying extravagant gifts for people they barely know, drugs, parties and overly customized multi million dollar homes that they never get their money back on.. I mean for christs sake you give me ten million dollars and I'd be set for LIFE. You give one of these guys a hundred million and he'd find more ways to lose it then I can even think up. Mark my words, FMJ will end up broke one day too.. and instead of calling him " money" we'll be calling him Floyd " food stamp " Mayweather.
http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/athletes/boxer/james-toney-net-worth/ Networth: 2 million He can fund his own retirement just like I do. The idea that a grown man who is self employed and has earned millions needs his hand held is degrading.
They just need to think ahead and come up with some sort of career/job after boxing. Or save/invest wisely. Toney obviously should have quit boxing years ago, and shouldn't have taken as many punches. It's no one else's fault. The one thing I will say: boxing fans, if they are concerned about it, should show even less interest in seeing these old has-beens fighting and not encourage it. Look at all the people on these forums who still talk like Shannon Briggs is some sort of serious attraction. A lot of them wanted to see Briggs v Haye, which I think would have been a mismatch. And Haye's well on his way to being a has-been encouraged by deluded fans too !
