by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) – This week’s 141st edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with former three division champion who spoke about his career, his future, and the prospect of fighting Denis Lebedev later this year. Toney also shared his views on a variety of other aspects pertaining to the current boxing landscape including the Klitschko brothers, David Haye, Pacquiao-Marquez III, Mayweather-Ortiz, HBO’s 24/7 series, Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver, Marco Huck, Steve Cunningham, and more! Here is a complete transcript from that interview:
JENNA J: It’s actually time for our second guest of this week’s show. He’s making his second appearance with On the Ropes. We’re joined by the former middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight champion of the world—James “Lights Out” Toney! How are you feeling today James?
JAMES TONEY: I’m feeling good. Fabulous!
JENNA: Alright! Well let’s talk about some rumors that are going on around with you. There are rumors that you will be taking on Denis Lebedev in November. How true are those James?
TONEY: Well the rumors are true. Whatever goes on we’re pushing pretty soon because I’m ready to fight. I can’t get a fight with the so-called big guys in the division—the Klitschko sisters, or any of those guys, so I’m going for the next best thing.
JENNA: Okay well the next best thing would be down at 200 pounds. Why did you make this choice to go from your last fight at 257 down to the cruiserweight limit?
TONEY: Well basically like I said, I can’t get a fight in the heavyweight division so I have to go down in weight in order to try and get a big fight. The main goal right now is to get Bernard Hopkins in the ring. First thing first is David, I don’t know how you say his last name but whatever his name is, I’m going to get him in there and then I’m going to get rid of him!
JENNA: How hard has it been to get down to this weight? It’s a weight that you haven’t been at in a good seven years.
TONEY: Well it’s hard, but I’m training. You know what I’m saying? That’s the main thing, being focused. I’m real focused right now so when I’m focused and ready to go like I am now there ain’t nothing stopping me.
JENNA: Okay now if you win a fight against someone like Lebedev, what do you think that does for your career?
TONEY: After I beat Lebedev the sky is the limit! I’m still going to be heavyweight world champion, I’m still going to be a heavyweight regardless. Maybe I’ll have a big fight against Antonio Tarver or maybe we can get something with Hopkins. Who knows? Let’s see if they got balls.
JENNA: So with this weight loss and this new desire to train here, does this mean at the age of 43 that you’re as focused as ever on your boxing career?
TONEY: Oh, I’m very focused! I’m ready to go! I’m a dangerous man! Everybody knows that. Why do you think the Klitschko sisters don’t want to fight me? Everybody knows I’m the most dangerous fighter in the world, period! That’s why everybody has been ducking me for so long. If these two are the best fighters in the world that you claim to be, and they’ve been ducking me for seven or eight years! They always have an excuse why they don’t want to fight James Toney because everybody knows I’m going to whop their ass!
JENNA: Alright well one of the Klitschkos himself has a fight this upcoming weekend against Tomasz Adamek. Does Adamek have any chance at all?
TONEY: Well like I keep on telling everybody, it’s bum versus bum! May the best bum win. I mean you really don’t consider those guys real fighters, do you? Both Klitschkos and Adamek they fight hand-selected over the hill guys who can’t even spell the word “fight”. So like I said, put them in with a real fighter like myself and see what happens. They will fold!
JENNA: How damaging do you think it was to the heavyweight division with the whole debacle between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko?
TONEY: Well it made something bad even worse! Now you see why everybody is with MMA. Don’t use that fight as a message as to why boxing is declining. We got James Toney here! James Toney is here! When James Toney is in shape, everybody knows in boxing! They don’t want to admit it, but they know I got the most skills out there. Nobody has more skills than me—nobody!
JENNA: You mentioned Bernard Hopkins. How low do you think you need to go in weight to temp him to fight you?
TONEY: Well I would go as low as 190 for him, no problem!
JENNA: So you would go 190 for him? So what do you think would happen? You’re crafty, he’s crafty—
TONEY: What do you mean? What do you think? Don’t tell me, please young lady, that you think Bernard Hopkins is an old-school fighter! You think he’s a crafty fighter?
JENNA: I think he—
TONEY: You think he’s a craft fighter?
JENNA: He might not be a throwback fighter like you, but he’s crafty!
TONEY: Right there! He’s not a throwback fighter like me! He’s not crafty! Anyone who runs in while holding their heads down, that’s not a throwback fighter! Okay? When I look at old film like Ray Robinson, he does not run in with his head down, hitting and holding, and then crowd and get hit! Pow! Bernard Hopkins is a big old crybaby, a sissy in disguise!
JENNA: Well what do you think allows him to be so successful at his older age?
TONEY: Well he’s always in great shape! You can’t take that away from Bernard. Bernard has stayed in great shape all of these years and I tip my hat off to him. You know what? If I would have stayed focused all those years I would still be undefeated and be one of the greatest ever period, like I am now but even more.
JENNA: Alright now James do you think this is your last run? Now that you’re 43 and you’re focused, is this your last chance to put together a final credential on your career?
TONEY: My career is solidified! Everyone is trying to do what I’ve been doing. I’m already a first ballot Hall of Famer. You know I’ve won more titles than anybody besides Pacquiao. You know what I’m saying, whether you guys want to count them or not. It is what it is. I’m only doing things for James Toney! I ain’t doing this for everybody else. I don’t care what anybody says! I don’t care what everybody is trying to tell me to do. James is going to be James! I’m going to do what I want to do, and that’s to dominate!
JENNA: Alright well James, we’re also on the line with my Co-Host Geoff Ciani.
GEOFFREY CIANI: Hey James, it’s a pleasure to have you back on the show.
TONEY: Hey what’s up, man? How are you doing Geoff?
CIANI: I’m doing very good, thanks. James, going back to Bernard Hopkins for a minute, his upcoming fight with Chad Dawson—what are your thoughts on that?
TONEY: Oh he’s going to knock Chad Dawson out! Chad Dawson’s head ain’t right. Even if it he was right, he still can’t beat Bernard because Bernard has too many tricks for him. He leads him in, he’s going to bring him in, and boom! He’s going to be knocked out!
CIANI: Now you mentioned that a victory against Lebedev could potentially open up a door and you mentioned Hopkins as a target. Right now, if you couldn’t get a fight with Hopkins if you beat Lebedev, what about a fight against the better known champions in the division who are considered the best like Steve Cunningham or Marco Huck? Would you consider fighting them?
TONEY: Marco or Steve Cunningham? Like I said, batter up! I don’t turn down nothing! I’m the best fighter, period! You know what I’m saying? If you’re the best fighter in the world you fight the best opposition out there! You don’t run from anybody. I ain’t never done that! You look at my record. I fought the best in every division and I’ve done very well. So why should things change now? Like I said I’m an old school fighter, I’m a real old-school fighter! I fight the best available competition out there. All fighters should be that way today, but I’m the only one! I’m the only real fighter out there, the only real fighter!
CIANI: So if you had the choice if you beat Lebedev—
TONEY: If I had my choice, after I beat Lebedev—after I beat him, not if! I’m not Roy Jones. I’m a real fighter. I’m a dangerous man. I can tell you. After I beat him my preference would be one of the two “Bitchko sisters”. You know what I’m saying? That’s my first choice, but that ain’t got the balls, they ain’t got the guts, so my preference would be Hopkins or Antonio Tarver.
CIANI: Okay, Antonio Tarver, what did you think about his win against Danny Green and what do you think of his prospects in the cruiserweight division right now?
TONEY: Well I thought his victory with Danny Green was tremendous. Once again, hats off to him. Everybody was saying he couldn’t do it, but he went over there and took advantage of the man in his hometown. We’ll see. Batter up! Everybody talks a good game in boxing, but they don’t follow through with it. I do it!
CIANI: You mentioned Roy Jones before. I thought he was actually doing better against Lebedev through nine than the official scorecards suggested. What do you take out of that fight between Jones and Lebedev?
TONEY: Well I ain’t seen the fight so I don’t know. I’m just going by word of mouth. You know what I’m saying? I’m not Roy Jones. I’m a fighter. I don’t run around the ring and shake my ass. That’s not my thing. I go in there and try to hurt people. That’s what I do.
JENNA: Okay James well you like to refer to the Klitschkos as the “Bitchko sisters”.
TONEY: That’s right.
JENNA: Now if you were able to get them in the ring, what do you think you need to do as a fighter to beat them, to get a decision? How do you beat them?
TONEY: How do I beat them? That’s for me to know and you to find out. I don’t tell my secrets over the phone. Number one, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. All you got to do is go back to when he fought Lamon Brewster. You see, you know what happens. When you put pressure on pipes, the pipes bust. Right? It’s the same thing. You put pressure on those guys and they will fold over in the corner. I promise you. They don’t have the intensity to fight the right fight. David “Gaye” showed he was really gay how he went out there and just collapsed. As a matter of fact, that was one of the biggest robberies in history. They robbed people of a lot of money without a gun. You know what I’m saying? Thank God the fight wasn’t on pay-per-view in the United States, because nobody would have bought it anyway.
JENNA: Alright since you can’t tell me your secret and we don’t want you to give that away, what are all the other fighters doing wrong against the Klitschkos? What are they doing wrong?
TONEY: They’re not fighting! They’re taking pictures, and trying to find an opening here and there, and getting outpointed by that weak-ass jab that they got, or what they so-call a jab. They’re not great fighters. I mean their trainer sucks! Emanuel Steward is a half-assed trainer. Emanuel Steward is supposed to train like me. Emanuel Steward knows why he doesn’t want them to fight me. It was the same thing I did to all the fighters he had in the Kronk Gym all these years—kill, crush, destroy!
JENNA: Alright, I got to stop you there James. You’re saying Emanuel Steward isn’t that great of a trainer?
TONEY: You heard what I said! Let me tell you something. All the fighters he trained will confirm it and I know for a fact, the only thing Emanuel ever did in his whole career was come in the last week before a fight after he had Walter Smith, Bill Miller, and everybody else doing all the training camps for the whole eight or nine weeks. The last week Emanuel comes in when the camera is on him and he does mitts with him and says he did something. Man that’s bullsh*t! If he was training he would be with them day and night. He’s doing it now because of with Klitschko over there, he’s kissing his ass. He’s an ass-kisser. He’s an Uncle Tome. You can tell him I said it, too. I don’t care.
JENNA: You’re entitled to your opinion like everyone else.
TONEY: Oh yeah! I am entitled to my opinion and I hope everybody is listening because what I’m speaking is the truth. I speak the truth, and nothing but the truth because the truth sets you free, period! I see you’re an Emanuel Steward fan, huh?
JENNA: We have him on quite often and I believe he’s a great trainer. He’s trained so many world champions—
TONEY: Anybody can come in the last minute and train somebody and come in and take the lead the last week and take credit for it. You don’t see him making champions like Freddie Roach.
JENNA: What about Tommy Hearns? He trained Tommy Hearns from the amateurs.
TONEY: No, no, no, no! That’s my trainer. Bill Miller was the original trainer of Tommy Hearns. If you want to bet me on that, we can call up Bill Miller right now! He’s 95 years old and still alive and he’ll tell you the f*cking truth! So look! Let me tell you something! I don’t know how old you are or how long you’ve been in the game, but apparently you’re brand new to this because you don’t know what the f*ck you’re talking about!
JENNA: I know what I’m talking about. I’ve interviewed him. He trained him from the amateurs into the professionals.
TONEY: Okay! That’s what he says! That’s what he says! But ask the mother*ckers around here! Okay!
JENNA: Okay, okay James. Let’s change the subject because we don’t need to argue about this. Let’s talk about you. If you do not get the fight with Denis Lebedev, what are your options?
TONEY: Well like I said I’ll fight anybody, anywhere, anytime. I want to fight the best opposition out there, Tarver, Hopkins, you know like I said, whoever.
JENNA: Alright well what about Alexander Povetkin? He just won a portion of the heavyweight title. Would that fight interest you?
TONEY: Oh no doubt! 100%! The more the merrier, whoever wants to dance let’s make it happen.
JENNA: People have been complaining about whether or not that fight should have been for a real belt. Do you think if you win that fight you would be considered a champion?
TONEY: Of course! See number one, my name is gold! So everybody already knows I’m the real deal. A belt don’t make James Toney! James Toney makes the belt, so I’m not even worried about that. All we get to do is get him and make it happen. I’m pretty sure after I beat this guy Denis, if the fight does materialize I’ll take care of my business and everybody will see that I’m the new heavyweight champion.
JENNA: How great do you think it would be for boxing to once again have an American holding a heavyweight title belt around his waist?
TONEY: Well we do have an American heavyweight champion! I am! Like I said the belt don’t make me, I make the belt. What people need to understand, I’m not falling into the boxing politics. I don’t do that. It ain’t my thing. I’m an old school fighter and I’m going to keep on rumbling and do this damn thing right! And I’m going to get it right! One day it’s going to happen!
JENNA: How do you feel now, now that you’re at a lighter weight? Do you feel better? Do you feel stronger? Do you feel like you can do better in the ring now that you’re down a little bit in weight?
TONEY: Yeah, I feel pretty good. I feel excellent. I’m going to feel better when I get closer to 190. I’ll feel even greater, but right now I’m just going to take it one day at a time. That’s all I can do.
CIANI: Your last fight against Damon Reed, that was one of the longest layoffs you had in your career between professional fights in a boxing ring. How did you feel after the long layoff? Did you feel any rust at all or anything like that?
TONEY: To be honest with you I felt like sh*t and I looked like sh*t, and I already knew what the problem was because I had been out for so long and it wasn’t my fault! I’ve been trying to fight but there ain’t anybody who wants to fight. Like I said in this new age of boxing there ain’t anybody trying to fight nobody! If you’re a top ten fighter and you want to get a shot at the title, you should fight another top ten fighter, period! It’s a shame for boxing fans. That’s why we’re losing our fans from boxing to MMA, because we’re not putting the fights on that everybody wants to see. So my thing right now is now that I’m back, I’m healthy and 100%, I’ll make sure everybody gets their money’s worth.
CIANI: Was there any doubt in your mind before that time, that you were going to return to the boxing ring in the midst of that long layoff?
TONEY: Oh yeah, no doubt! I’m still doing both. I’m enjoying myself and having fun again. It’s like anybody. Whoever enjoys their job they’re going to want to go to work every day, and that’s what I do! I can’t wait to wake up and go to the gym and work out every day. The excitement is back!
CIANI: So would you say that’s what keeps you motivated to keep going at this stage?
TONEY: Oh what keeps me motivated is to go down as the best ever, period. I’ve done something that no one has ever done. You have people who move from middleweight to heavyweight and don’t do too well. I’ve been able to do it constantly. Roy won the title and went down. I stayed and I competed against the big guys in the division. I have done very well! I’ve beaten them!
CIANI: You mentioned before James that the fans aren’t getting to see a lot of the fights they want to see, and the fight that immediately jumps to mind when you say that of course is Pacquiao versus Mayweather. They both have upcoming fights. Pacquiao is fighting Juan Manuel Marquez for a third time and Mayweather’s fighting Victor Ortiz. Do you think fans will ever get to see that fight?
TONEY: It’s going to have to happen one way or another because the fights they’re fighting are garbage! Victor Ortiz? Come on! The guy quit on national TV a couple of years ago. And Juan Manuel Marquez? I don’t know how he even got into the Pacquiao sweepstakes, but it is what it is. So it’s going to have to happen eventually.
CIANI: Have you been watching the 24/7 series at all for the buildup to Mayweather-Ortiz, and if so what do you think of it?
TONEY: It’s a good series. You know it’s okay, it could be better, but it is what it is. I think Mayweather is probably a lot better. Victor doesn’t look like he’s really sure of himself. You know what I’m saying? That’s what I’m saying, because I’ve seen fighters like that for 25 years, almost 25 years as a professional. So I know the fight game inside and out from the promoter’s point of view to the fighter’s point of view. So I’m not convinced.
JENNA: Alright well James we just have a couple of more questions before we let you off the line. You mentioned David Haye, or as you call him David “Gaye”. Seeing as he upset a lot of boxing fans with his last performance in the ring against Wladimir Klitschko, how much would you like to get in the ring with him?
TONEY: If he wants to come to the United States we’ll do it! I ain’t got no problem with knocking him out here on US soil and then he can back to Britain with the rest of the fans over there and do what he does. David is nothing special. Like I said, all of these opponents are hand-selected. If you look at my record, even from my first pro fight, my opponents have never been hand-selected. I fought the best and toughest guys out there. All of the fighters of today’s era couldn’t last when I was coming up. There ain’t a chance! They get protected too much.
JENNA: Alright now James you mentioned all the great fighters you fought in your career. Do you have any regrets now? At the age of 43 do you think you could have done anything differently?
TONEY: Yeah! If I would have gotten serious and motivated for the Roy Jones fight you guys would have never heard of him again! But it is what it is, I made a mistake and I paid for it!
JENNA: Okay James, well some people are saying you’re getting towards the end of your career. Realistically how much longer do you see yourself boxing?
TONEY: I can do this as long as I want to! There is no reason to end my career. Ya’ll say it, but my career is going to go as long as I want it to go. I’m not going t o let anybody tell me when I have to go. I feel like I’m just getting started, I’m fresh again, so we’ll see!
JENNA: How would you feel if Evander Holyfield, who you beat eight years ago, gets a title shot before you do?
TONEY: Well I expected that, because they do a lot of ass-kissing in their camp so I can’t worry about that. I can’t worry about what another man does.
JENNA: Well I have one final question. There are a lot of James Toney fans out there in the world. Is there anything you want to say to them?
TONEY: Yeah, I love them! Keep on moving! We ain’t done. We’re just getting this party started. I promise you!
JENNA: Alright, take it easy James and we wish you the best of luck with all your future fights.
TONEY: Alright.
CIANI: Thank you James, best of luck.
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For those interested in listening to the James Toney interview in its entirety, it begins approximately forty-four minutes into the program.
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