ShareThisBy DAVID A. AVILA
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Riding the tip of the heavyweight tornado, James "Lights Out" Toney may seem like a madman with his tempestuous remarks and quick blowups, but he's really a softie ... outside the ring.
He spews venomous remarks like one of those spitting cobras, but if you're in trouble he's there to help.
The fighter is an enigma.
Outside the ring, he's one of the best-dressed athletes in the world. Inside the ring, he's the monster of your worst nightmare.
Devil or angel, Toney fights like a man possessed once he slips on the boxing gloves and walks between the ropes.
An angry Toney stands panting with anticipation to meet the quiet but deadly fists of Samuel Peter at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, on Saturday. The fight, co-promoted by Duva Promotions and Goossen-Tutor Promotions, will also be televised by Showtime.
About five years ago, Toney sat in the Wild Card Gym, telling anybody who would listen that he would knock out Mike Tyson if they ever met.
Few believed him.
"I'm the best fighter in the world, bar none!" he shouted.
After beating Vassiliy Jirov for the cruiserweight world title, then doing what even Tyson and Lennox Lewis could not do _ knock out Evander Holyfield _ finally the boxing world has come to realize that Toney can fight at the heavyweight level.
"I don't just talk, I say it with my fists," Toney said.
But there is definitely another side to Lights Out. When sparring partners Javier Mora, Jason Gavern or Cisse Salif need a fight, you can bet Toney is behind them.
"James is like a big brother. He's gangster, but he's a beautiful person," said Mora, who has been mentored by Toney for the past several years. "I owe a lot to James."
When Salif recently fought Damian "Bolo" Wills in Temecula, Calif., Toney drove more than 100 miles one way to support the big African fighter. All through the match, Toney shouted instructions and encouragement to his gym partner.
Several months ago, Gavern clashed with a heavyweight prospect in a Palm Springs casino. There again was Toney, shouting encouragement to the ex-policeman who takes a lot of ribbing and ridicule when they spar. But outside the ring, Toney treats Gavern like a younger brother.
"I learn a lot from James," said Gavern, a fighter originally from Pennsylvania but now living in Florida. "I know when I spar with James Toney that no one is going to be better than him. It gives me confidence."
Now Peter awaits another opportunity to fight one or all of the heavyweight world titleholders. Quiet and unassuming, the Nigerian fighter known as the "Nightmare" faces in Toney another fighter who gives nightmares to opponents.
"I know Toney is a good boxer," Peter said. "But when I hit him with my best punch, he will not get up."
Against Wladimir Klitschko, Peter knocked down the Ukrainian fighter three times but lost the fight by decision.
"I won that fight," Peter said. "They robbed me."
Peter knows Toney is a much more skillful fighter than Klitschko or anyone else in the heavyweight division.
"Nobody can use their skill on me," Peter said. "I will knock him out."
Peter believes his brick-like fists can end a fight suddenly and violently, as witnessed by those who saw him knock out Jeremy Williams two years ago.
Toney scoffs at the comparison.
"I ain't never been knocked down or knocked out," Toney said. "I've been in with the best fighters in the world, better than him."
For more than a decade Toney sought to avenge the loss he suffered at the hands of Roy Jones Jr. in November 1994 in the super middleweight division.
The speedy Jones moved around like a hummingbird, just close enough to touch Toney with short burst combinations but far enough to scoot out of range.
Toney roared with anger and quickly sought a rematch. But Jones never abided. Though he did say he would fight Toney if he won the cruiserweight world title, it still didn't happen.
When Jones met Antonio Tarver in the second match in 2004 and was knocked out, Toney screamed at the television and whoever was within earshot. And after Glen Johnson repeated the knockout, Toney knew his revenge would never come.
"I wanted to be the one," Toney said. "He's (Jones) old news now."
With Jones unable to fill the void, Toney has resorted to picking on the heavyweights despite being the much smaller man.
"They're all bums. I'll beat every one of them," Toney said.
