James Toney
| James Toney | |
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Toney in 2011
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| Born | James Nathaniel Toney August 24, 1968 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Other names |
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| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Division | |
| Reach | 72 in (183 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Sherman Oaks, California, U.S. |
| Years active |
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| Professional boxing record | |
| Total | 91 |
| Wins | 76 |
| By knockout | 46 |
| Losses | 10 |
| By knockout | 0 |
| Draws | 3 |
| No contests | 2 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 1 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Losses | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Boxing record from BoxRec | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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James Nathaniel Toney (born August 24, 1968) is an American professional boxer. He is a three-time former world champion in three weight classes, having held the IBF and lineal middleweight titles from 1991 to 1993; the IBF super middleweight title from 1993 to 1994; and the IBF cruiserweight title in 2003. Additionally he has challenged twice for a world heavyweight title. In 1991 and 2003, Toney was voted by both The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America as their Fighter of the Year. In 2010, Toney made a one-time appearance in mixed martial arts, losing to Randy Couture at UFC 118. Outside of sports, Toney played the role of Joe Frazier in the 2001 film Ali, alongside Will Smith.
Before entering the ring, Toney started on the gridiron. Toney said he received scholarship offers from Western Michigan to play quarterback and from Michigan to play fullback. But Toney said, "I wasn't a team player and wasn't good at taking orders. So I went into boxing."
Toney had a brief but relatively successful amateur career, compiling a record of 33-2 (32 KOs). Toney had his first professional fight on October 26, 1988, beating Stephen Lee by a technical knockout in the second round. He was scouted and trained by Gregory Owens as a teenager, who also was his trainer through the mid-nineties. His moniker of "Lights Out" was also given by either Gregory or his son. In his 7th pro fight, Toney's manager, alleged drug dealer Johnny "Ace" Smith, was killed. Afterwards, Jackie Kallen was hired as his manager. Toney also employed the services of legendary Detroit-based trainer Bill Miller. Miller, a former boxer himself who worked in Detroit's famed Kronk Gym and assisted hall-of-fame trainer Emanuel Steward at times, is credited with developing Toney's famed "old school" or "throwback" style of fighting.
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Wikipedia