Toney promises to weigh just 217lbs for Rock
By Ant Evans: Heavyweight James Toney has promised trainer Freddie Roach that he will put the 'light' in Light's Out and weigh just 217lbs when he challenges Hasim Rahman for the WBC title on March 18.
After the shame and embarrassment of winning and immediately getting stripped of the WBA title last April after a positive steroid result, Toney challenges 'the Rock' at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey in what will be the 37-year-old's second bite of the heavyweight cherry.
Despite being a former middleweight, super-middleweight and cruiserweight champion Toney's poundage has crept ever higher since he exploded onto the heavyweight scene by destroying Evander Holyfield in October 2003.
Toney, 69-4-2 (43), weighed 217lbs for that sizzling performance but came back at 227lbs for Rydell Booker after an 11 month injury lay-off. And then Toney weighed 233lbs for Ruiz before the 5ft 9incher scaled a career high of 235lbs for Dominic Guinn in September.
But the sublimely talented LA native knows that in two-time heavyweight title-holder Rahman, 41-5-1 (33), he is facing the most dangerous puncher of his career and that mobility will be a key to victory.
And yet, Toney weighs 260lbs at present and even Roach himself has his doubts that 'Lights Out' can actually get drop 43lbs in camp.
However, Roach told SecondsOut's LA reporter Ben Cohen. "As long as James is in shape I'll be happy and we'll win this fight. The only weapon Rahman has is his right hand. And James never gets hit with right hands."
By Ant Evans: Heavyweight James Toney has promised trainer Freddie Roach that he will put the 'light' in Light's Out and weigh just 217lbs when he challenges Hasim Rahman for the WBC title on March 18.
After the shame and embarrassment of winning and immediately getting stripped of the WBA title last April after a positive steroid result, Toney challenges 'the Rock' at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey in what will be the 37-year-old's second bite of the heavyweight cherry.
Despite being a former middleweight, super-middleweight and cruiserweight champion Toney's poundage has crept ever higher since he exploded onto the heavyweight scene by destroying Evander Holyfield in October 2003.
Toney, 69-4-2 (43), weighed 217lbs for that sizzling performance but came back at 227lbs for Rydell Booker after an 11 month injury lay-off. And then Toney weighed 233lbs for Ruiz before the 5ft 9incher scaled a career high of 235lbs for Dominic Guinn in September.
But the sublimely talented LA native knows that in two-time heavyweight title-holder Rahman, 41-5-1 (33), he is facing the most dangerous puncher of his career and that mobility will be a key to victory.
And yet, Toney weighs 260lbs at present and even Roach himself has his doubts that 'Lights Out' can actually get drop 43lbs in camp.
However, Roach told SecondsOut's LA reporter Ben Cohen. "As long as James is in shape I'll be happy and we'll win this fight. The only weapon Rahman has is his right hand. And James never gets hit with right hands."
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