Toney speaks about Holyfield clash

13.07 - Legendary four-time heavyweight champion Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield will meet three-time world champion and current IBF cruiserweight champion James "Lights Out'' Toney in an intriguing 12-round heavyweight matchup on SHOWTIME PAY PER VIEW on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The boxers, who have a combined record of 104-10-4 with 67 knockouts, will meet in the main event of a pay-per-view fight card that begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. Suggested retail price for the telecast is $44.95. Goossen Tutor Promotions will present the event.

JAMES TONEY (66-4-2, 42 KOs):
"I like the fact that there is another fight card that night, but it can't compete against ours. It is like the NFL versus the CFL and we are the NFL. Nobody watches the CFL. I am excited and looking forward to Oct. 4 and fighting at Mandalay Bay. This is going to be a great fight card. We'll have 16,000 fans watching in person and many more thousands watching on pay per view. There will be 500 at the other show.

"I have watched Evander for a long time. I love him. He is a real, passionate warrior who loves this game. I remember when he beat Dwight Muhammad Qawi to win the cruiserweight title. But that was then and this is now and I have to do what I have to do, and that is knock out Holyfield. I don't want to take anything away from him, but Holyfield is at an advanced age, and I know I can catch him. He is, even at 40, still dangerous, but I still have all my quickness and power. I will be the best puncher he has ever faced. Not the hardest, just the best. It is not how hard you punch, it is where you place them and I am the best in the business at placing them.

"This is my chance to make a big splash in the division. It is the major leagues. I don't expect fighting at heavyweight will be any different than any other fight. I have sparred with heavyweights in the gym for years. I always wanted to fight the real heavyweight champs. So this will not exactly be anything totally new for me.

"I am not surprised Evander took the fight, but this is going to be his last one. He is going to retire after it is over. If he really wanted to win the heavyweight title again, he should not have tried to go through me. He should have taken on Roy Jones. It would have been safer.

"I jumped when they told me I was fighting Holyfield. I have always wanted to fight the best out there. I have already been training 2½ weeks. I will probably weigh around 208 pounds, but it's going to be more muscle than just extra weight. This is the first time I do not have to worry about making any weight. I am older, but more mature, so I know how to prepare. It cost me before, like against Jones, but now I know what to do. I now take this business much more seriously, and my motivation is very high. I do not feel like anybody can beat me.

"I like the fact Holyfield is favored because it gives me even more motivation.

"I take my style from the old school boxers like Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano, Archie Moore, Jersey Joe Walcott and the young Ali. After the fight, I will decide what I want to do. I like belts, and I like money. I like money belts, too. Bottom line is, if the money is right, I will fight anybody, any place, at any time. Everybody knows that. I want to go out in a blaze of glory.

"Bernard Hopkins had a chance to fight me but he is a fool. He is doing himself in. I got frustrated waiting for him to decide what he wanted to do. Maybe we can put him on the undercard. That is where Hopkins belongs. "