09.08.04 – On September 23, three division world champion and current # 1 heavyweight contender James Toney returns to the ring for the first time since suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon when he battles unbeaten Rydell Booker in a 12 round heavyweight bout to be held at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California. To celebrate the return of, “Lights Out,” this bout will be telecast live on FOX Sports Net’s hit show, “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” doors open at 4pm (PT), 1st bout starts at 4:15pm (PT). Main event starts at 5:30pm (PT).
“I hope those guys had their fun while I was away,” said Toney of the heavyweight division. “Because now I’m back, and I’m more fearsome and hungry than ever. Line ’em up. They’re all going down.”
For almost 16 years, James Toney (67-4-2, 43 KOs) has been one of boxing’s best pound for pound. A world champion at middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight, “Lights Out” entered the heavyweight division in 2003 and made his presence known with a ninth round TKO win over the legendary Evander Holyfield. That win (and a stirring victory earlier that year over Vassiliy Jirov) earned Toney the Fighter of The Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America and USA Today. While training for a fight with Jameel McCline in January, Toney ruptured his Achilles tendon, but after a successful rehabilitation and plenty of hard hours in the gym, the WBO’s mandatory contender is back.
“James has literally knocked out medical science by his quick recovery from such a serious injury,” said Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor Promotions, Toney’s promoter. “I’m convinced it was the day in and day out notion that the experts and fighters thought this was a career ending injury. His name wasn’t being mentioned as one of the top heavyweights during his rehabilitation.” “Well, guess what? He’s back…..bigger, stronger and mad as hell. September 23 it’s Rydell Booker and then its lights out for anyone who dares steps through the ropes with him.” “We’re very excited about working with FOX Sports Net on this event, bringing the best of sports and entertainment together,” said Goossen. “To have the Best Damn Heavyweight Period fighting on the “Best Damn Sports Show Period” is a unique opportunity to combine sports and entertainment in the same package and is something fans everywhere are going to love to watch.” Rydell Booker (22-0, 12 KOs) a rising star in the heavyweight division is determined to give Toney a rude welcome back to the ring. A celebrated amateur who has matched that success thus far in the pro ranks, Booker, like Toney, hails from Michigan, so expect the sparks to fly as local bragging rights are also on the line on September 23. “I’m glad this fight is being shown on the “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” “because I am the Best Damn Heavyweight In The World Period and nobody better question it,” said Toney. “Rydell Booker is in my way to the heavyweight title, and on September 23, I will physically remove him from my path…period.”
ABOUT “THE BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD”
Each weeknight on Fox Sports Net the topical sports stories of the day are discussed in an opinionated and humorous way by a trio of personalities: actor Tom Arnold, former NBA star John Salley, and host Chris Rose. This group tosses around sports conversation from the fans’ and players’ points of view with a no-holds-barred approach. Blending sports and comedy with an irreverent tone throughout the 90 minutes, BDSSP also takes a humorous nightly look at the sports happenings of the day, and features special guests with the guys in their living-room style set.