RSSJames Toney
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Toney, Batchelder Test Positive for Steroids; Suspended for One Year
James Toney and his opponent from his last bout on May 24th, Danny Batchelder, have both tested positive for steroids according to California State Athletic Commission Executive Officier Armando Garcia.
They both tested for two different types of steroids. Toney for boldendone and stanazol; Batchelder for stanazol and oxandolone.
“They have a right to appeal,” Garcia said Wednesday. “My recommendation is suspension until the end of the licensing year and a $2,500 fine for both. We will give them the 30 days to appeal. If they don’t, that’s what the suspension will be.”
“We have a detailed anti-doping program in place in this state,” Garcia said. “If they come here doping, they’re going to get caught.”
Unlike the last time Toney tested positive for steroids, the outcome of his bout with Batchelder will not be changed and his split decision win will stand. Toney came up positive for nandrolone two years ago and his victory over John Ruiz was changed to a no contest.
Could this be the end for Toney? It just might be…
Friday, May 25, 2007
Toney Wins Split Decision in Bad Performance
James Toney won a split decision over Danny Batchelder last night in a very lackluster performance for Toney.
The crowd of only 4,269 was probably an omen that the main event wasn’t going to be very exciting. Batchelder took the fight on only three weeks notice and I’m sure that didn’t help things either. Basically Toney looked old last night, so old that his poor performances against Samuel Peter actually looked decent. The fight was said to be extremely boring and those that didn’t leave early rained down boos throughout the fight.
Toney came into the fight out of shape once again, not a surprise to those that have been following him for the last couple of years. Reports said that Toney weighed in at 229 lbs, an improvement from his 257 lb effort before the first Peter fight but still above his supposed “target weight” of 217 lbs that he claimed he was going to get to last month.
The judges’ scorecards read 98-92 and 97-93 for Toney and 96-94 for Batchelder…
Monday, April 30, 2007
Toney Returns to the Ring on May 24
LOS ANGELES – For more than two years, Goossen Tutor Promotions and HP Pavilion in San Jose, California have provided Bay Area boxing fans with world-class events featuring a blend of future stars and Bay Area boxers for the successful “Fight Night at the Tank” series.
On Thursday, May 24, the series “American Metal and Iron Fight Night at the Tank” will be headlined by its biggest star ever, as seven-time world champion and future first ballot hall of famer, James “Lights Out” Toney makes his return to the ring in his first stage of reclaiming the world heavyweight title belt.
In the scheduled 10-round heavyweight main attraction, Toney (69-6-3, 43 KOs), who lives in California by way of Ann Arbor, Michigan, will take on Greenwich, New York native Danny Batchelder (25-4-1, 12 KOs).
Continue reading "Toney Returns to the Ring on May 24"
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Samuel Peter is Pissed Off
Trust me, if I was in Samuel Peter’s position, I’d be a little ticked off too…
If this whole thing sounds just a bit familar, it’s probably because we have been through this already. Peter was supposed to get a title shot after beating James Toney the first time around. Then Oleg Maskaev took a voluntary defense before the deadline of 2007 and defeated Peter Okhello. So Peter went ahead and beat Toney once again.
Now it’s time for a title shot right? Not exactly…
We told you a while back that Vitali Klitschko was seriously thinking about attempting a comeback. Well now rumors are swirling that his official return to boxing is only weeks away. Of course it tends to not be a rumor anymore once the president of the WBC is actually speaking to Vitali about fighting in the coming months.
Jose Sulaiman is currently awaiting a phone call from Vitali and his camp about the opportunity of getting an immediate title shot against Maskaev. Vitali was originally promised an immediate title shot if he decided to come out of retirement from injury. It looks like he actually may get it.
That would mean that Vitali would be jumping right over Peter in the rankings and would receive a title shot before him. Rightfully so, Peter is pretty pissed off about this whole thing. Sulaiman however just wishes that everyone would calm down for the time being…
“I am waiting to hear something back from Vitali,” Sulaiman said. “Vitali contacts me directly from the Ukraine or wherever he is. He called me a week ago speaking about this comeback. It’s very clear that an immediate title shot is what Vitali wants. I took notice of that just as I have taken notice of (complaints from) Dino Duva, Don King and Iyavailo Gotzev made on behalf of top contender Samuel Peter.”
Sulaiman may say that he is going to hear arguments from both sides but it’s obvious what he wants to do as of right now. Peter knows that too:
“It’s a disgrace! I fought my way into this position without taking shortcuts. I paid my sanctioning fees not once, but twice. I wasn’t even supposed to fight the second time, but people were questioning their judges, so I fought again to prove myself. They’re trying to take away everything I worked for all those years. I’m number one and they’re going to have a very big problem if they allow this. They are putting their own hands in the fire and making a big mistake.”
Why did he (Klitschko) wait till I beat Toney the second time to say he was coming back? Why not announce before? Because he’s not a true champion. He got his title when Lennox Lewis retired. And now he wants to fight Maskaev, who is also not a true champion because he’s avoiding me. Let me go against Maskaev and I’ll knock him out and then I’ll knock out both Klitschko brothers on the same night!
They tried to bribe me to get me to shut up. I don’t care about money. I want the heavyweight championship. I came to the United States six years ago and I’ve worked very hard to be in this position. They are all going to pay for this!”
If boxers can be measured by the words they say, then Peter is an animal. If that Superfighter thing ever gets started up again, Peter should lay out an open challenge to both Klitschko brothers and see what they say…
Organizations • WBC • Personalities • Jose Sulaiman • Promoters • Don King • Heavyweight • James Toney • Klitschko Brothers • Lennox Lewis • Oleg Maskaev • Peter Okhello • Samuel Peter
PermalinkTuesday, January 16, 2007
EEC - January 16, 2007
On the heels of Tommy Morrison testing negative, we have Mayweather and Hopkins speaking up, George Foreman traveling, the return of a former heavyweight champion, the pro boxing debut of a former UFC heavyweight champ, a major fight announcement and much more…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- What is it about English fighters that people find so intriguing? I mean really, if you followed this site over the summer, you would see how much media coverage both Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe got. They were always calling out the big names, always changing their minds about who they wanted to fight.
These days it’s the exact opposite with the elite American fighters wanting a piece of them.
Bernard Hopkins has shown interest in Calzaghe, hoping that he will move up a weight-class and fight him later this year:
“After Jones I hope he’ll come up to light-heavyweight to challenge me.” said Hopkins.
Calzaghe also met with Sylvester Stallone this past weekend at a boxing gala event as Stallone was making a trip over to the UK and Calzaghe was one of the people he wanted to meet the most.
Calzaghe said of the meeting with the famed Movie star:,“Sly was great. He’s just a normal guy. He turned up for the dinner by himself. There was no entourage. He said he wanted to meet me after seeing my recent win against Jeff Lacy. He said he was a fan of mine and had seen me fight many times but I told him I had seen him fight a lot more in the movies.”
Calzaghe added: “I value Sly’s opinion. He’s in great nick for a man of 60. He has the body of a 30-year-old. It was great to hear him tell us about Hollywood.”
Apparently calling out Floyd Mayweather Jr. 1000 times is going to pay off for Hatton as Pretty Boy Floyd will be ringside for his fight this weekend against Juan Urango. Even better, he’s going there because of him…
“I’m looking forward to getting an up close and personal look at Hatton so that I can make my mind up on whether I might want to fight him.” explained Mayweather.
- Former heavyweight champion Lou Savarese will continue his comeback this Thursday when he takes on MMA veteran Travis Fulton in an event promoted by himself and his business partner Cameron Park.
- On the same card as Savarese and Fulton, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez will be makig his pro boxing debut.
- DRL Promotions has announced that WBC Lightweight Champion Joel Casamayor will defend his title in a rematch against Acelino Freitas. Freitas won the first fight between the two in 2002 by a close split decision in a fight that Casamayor would have won if he didn’t have two points deducted during the fight for illegal blows.
There is no date set for the fight as of yet but it is expected to be televised on HBO…
- George Foreman is reportedly traveling to the Middle East to promote his famous George Foreman Grill machines. He will be visiting the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai to do an expo on his product.
Some Good Reads:
The Sweet Science: Looking Forward To More In The New Year: Part II; Brooklyn southpaw Luis Collazo is ready for Pomona’s Sugar Shane
Eastside Boxing: Big Name Heavyweights James Toney Could Still DefeatFeatures • Early Eight Count • Movies/TV • Rocky • Heavyweight • Light Heavyweight • Middleweight • Welterweight • Acelino Freitas • Bernard Hopkins • Floyd Mayweather Jr • George Foreman • James Toney • Joe Calzaghe • Joel Casamayor • Lou Savarese • Luis Collazo • Ricco Rodriguez • Ricky Hatton • Shane Mosley
PermalinkSunday, January 14, 2007
EEC - January 14, 2007
Early Eight Count - It’s catchy isn’t it?
Basically this is going to be a daily morning post focusing on a variety of boxing news, gossip, articles, videos, and whatever interesting things myself or David will be able to find.
I’m going to try my best to post it every morning at 8:00 AM, genius I know… However if you don’t see it up one day for some reason, please don’t uppercut me too hard.
We’re doing something similar over on our sister site, MMA on Tap as well.
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Ricky Hatton seems to be taking Floyd Mayweather Jr. off of his radar screen because of Mayweather’s future plans for this year which include a superfight with Oscar De La Hoya in May and possible retirement right after the bout. That didn’t stop Hatton from discussing alternate plans for this year however…
“I have no problem with fighting up at welterweight again. But the only fight I’ll probably look at that might tempt to me to welterweight would be certainly Floyd Mayweather, maybe Miguel Cotto. I’m not soon to be back on the welterweight division even though I’ve made back down to junior welterweight. I have got to put on an exciting performance against Juan Urango. Hopefully win my title back which I’m confident that I can do, and hopefully lead to a fight against José Castillo and then if Floyd is still fighting, if he chooses not to retire then that would another fight I’d love.”
I’m sure that Hatton won’t be the only one voicing their displeasure about Floyd opting to retire soon, crushing the hopes of many welterweights out there that wanted a crack at him.
- Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer will be traveling to Florida next week to visit with Roy Jones Jr. and attempt to get him to sign a contract that will allow him to fight Bernard Hopkins in July. According to Hopkins, he is already signed for the fight and it is now up to Jones Jr. to make the fight happen.
- Just like I reported yesterday, Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent will most likely be Jin Chi as Top Rank’s Bob Arum is supposed to be finalizing the contract for the fight at some point this week.
One thing I’m considering is moving the usual ‘Weekend Fights’ and ‘Weekend Results’ posts to the EEC post for that day. I think it will work out a lot better and allow more time for news and events that occur which deserve more coverage. As always, feel free to leave a comment or contact us with your opinion about this decision or anything else that your little heart desires…
Weekend Results:
- Travis Simms won the WBA Super Welterweight Title on Saturday night, stopping Jose Antonio Rivera in the 9th round. Simms was in control for the entire fight, dominating Rivera in every aspect until the referee halted the bout in the middle of the 9th round after Rivera was knocked to the canvas for a second time.
Simms actually held the WBA Super Welterweight belt from December 2003 until June 2005 when he was stripped of the belt due to inactivity. Simms was holding out because he wanted a fight with Winky Wright who obviously had other plans. However Simms now guarantees that his mind is set on defending his title:
“I’m coming back, and I’m looking to get back in the mix with the top champions in the divison,” Simms said. “I cannot be denied. I stayed in the gym, stayed diligent, stayed focused.”
Don’t believe in newspapers? Don’t worry, I have you covered…
Some Good Reads:
ESPN: Dan Rafael’s January Division Rankings
I actually plan on starting some rankings of our own by next month possibly so stay tuned…
FOX Sports: Unified heavyweight title can save boxing
MaxBoxing: When to Hold and When to Fold: Toney’s March Memorable, but Uphill from Here
The Sweet Science: Looking For More In The New YearLast but not least, Jim Amato (neverlast on this site) will have a new piece being posted at some point this afternoon for those of you looking to check back in later on for new material…
Features • Early Eight Count • Promoters • Bob Arum • Golden Boy Promotions • Top Rank • Floyd Mayweather Jr • James Toney • Jose Antonio Rivera • Jose Luis Castillo • Manny Pacquiao • Miguel Cotto • Oscar De La Hoya • Ricky Hatton • Travis Simms
PermalinkSunday, January 07, 2007
Peter, Simms Triumph
Peter decisively outpointed James Toney in their rematch. Photo: Tom Casino/ShowtimeHOLLYWOOD, Fla. — A busier, more precise and determined Samuel Peter showed up to Saturday night’s World Boxing Council (WBC)-mandated heavyweight rematch and that meant trouble for James Toney.
In a spectacular and brutal battle of big men, Peter and Toney met at Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to determine once and for all the No. 1-ranked, mandatory challenger to WBC Champion Oleg Maskaev. Peter won the unanimous decision by scores of 118-110 twice and 119-108.
In the co-feature, super welterweight Travis Simms regained the World Boxing Association (WBA) title in devastating fashion with a ninth round TKO of Jose Antonio Rivera.
Continue reading "Peter, Simms Triumph"
Fight Results • Heavyweight • Welterweight • James Toney • Jose Antonio Rivera • Samuel Peter • Travis Simms
PermalinkThursday, January 04, 2007
Peter-Toney, Rivera-Simms Quotes
Peter and Toney pose (with Seminole Tribe Chairman Mitchell Cypress in the middle) after the weigh-in.Continue reading "Peter-Toney, Rivera-Simms Quotes"
Fight Previews • Heavyweight • Welterweight • James Toney • Jose Antonio Rivera • Samuel Peter • Travis Simms
PermalinkExperts Like Toney
Four months after one of the most exciting heavyweight fights in years ended amid a whirlwind of controversy, Samuel Peter (27-1, 22 KOs) and James Toney (69-5-3, 43 KOs) will go at it again in the main event this Saturday, Jan. 6, on Showtime Championship Boxing (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) in Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at Hollywood, Fla.
So who is going to triumph? Will Peter repeat or can Toney avenge the disputed defeat?
Last time around, the experts favored Toney by a 2-1 margin. In the rematch, Toney is again the choice, but by a lesser margin. Of the 37 boxing media sorts who participated in a Showtime Prediction Poll, 23 picked Toney and 14 chose Peter.
Here’s how they see the 12-round WBC eliminator that will determine once and for all who the mandatory challenger to WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev will be:
[ed. note: we somehow forgot to send ours in this time around, I’m going with Toney by decision. Even if each fighter has upped his training regiment, Toney benefits more from it than Peter at this point in their careers. - Singer]
Continue reading "Experts Like Toney"
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The Skinny on Sam Peter
Photo: Ed KeenanDo not expect to see as much of Samuel Peter this Saturday, Jan. 6, when he fights James Toney on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
Peter, you will notice (please see attached pictures), has lost a considerable amount of weight. He tipped the scales at a career-high 257 pounds before he won a controversial decision over Toney in their exciting September 2006 slugfest on Showtime.
But in recent weeks Peter has quietly and diligently been peeling off excess poundage as he prepares for Saturday’s 12-round rematch at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
“This is the best and hardest training camp of my career and I am solid as a rock,’’ Peter said. “Much has been made of Toney’s new, super training regimen and supposed low calorie diet, but I don’t care and it won’t matter what he weighs.
