James Toney Tickets

James Toney lost by 12-round unanimous decision to Russian Denis Lebedev (23-1-0, 17 KOs) in an interim WBA World cruiserweight title at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia on Friday, November 4, 2011. Scores were 120-108, 120-108 and 120-107 in a shutout. Although Toney came into the fight looking in shape boxing wise he is shot. His reflexes and legs are gone. Only the first round was close, the rest of fight Toney took a beating. Lebedev hurt Toney in round eight but couldn t take him out because Toney has a granite chin. Toney claimed he injured his knee in round two. He says he is not going to retire. Lebedev has now fought and defeated two fighters in a row who were once considered among the best, Roy Jones Jr and now James Toney.

Fight Location Date Boxing Tickets
Toney vs TBA      

James "Lights Out" Toney

(73-7-3, 44 KOs)

James "Lights Out" Toney, the master of ring generalship scored a unanimous decision victory over Dominick Guinn in an IBA heavyweight title bout in Reno, Nevada on October 1, 2005. It was the first fight for James Toney since he beat John Ruiz on April 30, 2005 to win the WBA heavyweight title only to have it stripped after testing positive for steroids. Toney had won the WBA heavyweight title by an unanimous decision in that fight becoming the fourth-oldest heavyweight champ and only the third one-time middleweight champion to take boxing's top crown. (Following the fight James Toney tested positive for a banned substance and the decision was changed to a No Contest by the New York State Athletic Commission.)

Then Toney was selected by the WBC as the first official challenger to interim heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, who was given the title after Vitali Klitschko retired because of injuries. The fight took place on Saturday, March 18, 2006 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Toney and Rahman fought to a draw. The scores were 114-114, 114-114 and 111-117. Two judges had Toney ahead by one point going into the 12th round.

James Toney Trash Talking Sparring Partners

Ringside Los Angeles: Toney had lost his first fight in nine years by way of a controversial split decision to Samuel Peter on September 2, 2006 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Most of the crowd and 25 out of 27 ringside media polled immediately after the fight thought Toney did enough to win but two of the judges saw it different. They seemed more impressed by Peters heavy hits (which weren't particularly flush) than Toneys better defensive boxing skills and ring generalship. Peter illegally rabbit punched the back of Toneys head throughout the fight but referee Raul Caiz did nothing about it and only deducted 1 point for Peters double earmuff punch during a break in the 9th round.

On January 1, 2007 at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, Toney fought and lost to Samuel Peter by a 12-round unanimous decision in the rematch ordered by the WBC. Toney was knocked down in the 2nd round for the first time since his fight against Roy Jones Jr. Although Toney appeared much more muscular in this bout the few solid combinations he was able to land flush on Peter's jaw didn't seem to phase Peter. Toney gave it his all but came up short against the more powerful imposing Peter.

James is back on track winning a 10-round split decision over Danny Batchelder at Fight Night at The Tank at HP Pavilion in San Jose on Thursday, May 24, 2007. Toney weighed in at 229 LB, the lightest he has weighted since 2004 for a fight. This was Toney's first fight since losing two WBC elimination bouts to Samuel Peter. Both Toney and Batchelder tested positive for steroids after the fight and were fined $2,500 and suspended by the California State Athletic Commission. Batchelder was suspended for a year while Toney was only suspended until November 24, 2007.

Toney vs Rahman II

On Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at the Pechanga Casino in Temecula, California on Fox Sports, Toney fought Hasim Rahman (45-6-2, 36 KOs) for the vacant WBO NABO heavyweight title. There was an accidental clash of heads in round three with Rahman suffering a cut above his left eyebrow. Toney landed counter right hands in round three rocking Rahman. At the end of round three Rahman, looking for an easy way out retired on his stool stating he could not continue because he couldn't see. After three rounds, the judges scorecards read 29-28 and 29-28 for Toney and 29-28 for Rahman. The fight was ruled a win for Toney by 3rd round TKO. Rahman thinking he would get away with a no contest decision complained and appealed the decision causing the California State Athletic Commission to overturn the result changing it to a No Decision. This was Toney and Rahman's second fight.

Toney beat Puerto Rican Fres "The Big O" Oquendo (29-5-0, 18 KOs) by 12-round split decision on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at the Morongo Casino in Cabazon, California. In addition to his victory Toney captured the vacant IBA and WBO NABO heavyweight titles. The judge's scorecards read 115-112, 114-113 for Toney and 110-116 Fres Oquendo. In round eight Oquendo lost a point for rabbit punches.

On Saturday, September 12, 2009 at the Pechange Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, Toney beat Matthew Greer (12-6-0, 11 KOs) by 2nd round TKO. Toney dropped Greer with a left hook to the body at 2:33 of round two in an untelevised match on the undercard of Andre Ward vs Shelby Pudwill on Showtime. Toney came in at 217 1/2 lbs which was his lightest weight since he stopped Evander Holyfield in 2003.

James Toney defeated former cruiserweight title holder Damon Reed (45-15-0, 32 KOs) of Topeka, Kansas by 10-round unanimous decision on Thursday, February 24, 2011 at Fight Night in America at the San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, California. Scores were 100-90, 100-90 and 100-90. In addition to his victory Toney successfully defended his IBA heavyweight title. Toney, having had a brief foray in UFC had not boxed since knocking out Matthew Greer in round two at Pechanga in Temecuela, California in September 2009. Despite 15 months left off Toney's boxing skills were intact and he toyed with the so-called "Dangerous" Damon Reed for 10-rounds hitting Reed repeatedly with thudding punches to the body followed by lefts and rights to the head.