Slow Dancing In The Dark – Toney and Ruiz Ready for Battle
by
Buster Paris
3/29 - James Toney is truly one funny fella. You can’t take your eyes or ears off the guy when he talks. It’s like E.F. Hutton meets Bernie Mac.
I just watched the clip of the Toney-Ruiz press conference (on TalkingBoxing.com) and for the first half I sat there with my mouth open, laughing and in disbelief.
The stage is set at the great Madison Square Garden for an April 30th 2005 big fight and whether there is actual animosity or not, whether it was real or not – I’m in.
You’ve got to read the transcript - check out Richard Thomas’ article because some of the lines simply can’t be missed. Two of the funniest lines that dropped out the mouth of James Toney have to be:
“I talk in my sleep” and “Watch him, he’s going to be hugging me and whispering in my ear ‘Please don’t knock me out.’” – watch the clip, in context it’s hysterical.
All jokes and pre fight hype aside a good point was made - Ruiz’s style.
I have mixed feelings about John’s style. On the one hand I hate it, it’s awesomely boring, excruciatingly frustrating and truth be told it’s like cross-country ballroom dancing with boxing gloves.
On the other hand he wins fights. The ugly truth is that the Quiet Man wins fights. You can’t argue with success and at the end of the day it’s Ruiz’s hand that gets held up high. His victories are impressive not by the way he won, but in that he’s beaten some fighters of distinction: Andrew Golota, Hasim Rahman, Kirk Johnson and Evander Holyfield.
He has 41 wins and 5 losses.
Since 1996 he has only lost 3 fights and they are actually pretty impressive, that is to say they are name and high quality opponents that beat him: David Tua (in 19 seconds), Evander Holyfield and Roy Jones Jr. These guys ain’t slouches.
I often find myself forgetting the cold hard fact that John Ruiz is the WBA Heavyweight Champion of the world…for now.
James “Lights Out” Toney.
I love “Lights Out”. He’s electrifying, exciting, funny, extremely talented and one hell of a fighter too.
While Ruiz’s style is boring, but effective Toney’s style is a little on the strange side and is also effective.
His style reminds me of Fred Sanford (Red Foxx / Sanford & Son). Did you ever see Fred getting ready to whup Esther? That’s how James Toney fights.
His record is 68 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws.
James has never lost a fight as a heavyweight. He began his career as a Middleweight at 160 lbs and decided to start a collection of championship belts in which he ultimately possessed 14.
His first belt came to him in 1990. It was his 16th professional fight and he became the Michigan State Middleweight Champ.
The next 14 years he would pick up more titles and more belts…and more weight. He would go on from the Michigan State Middleweight Champion moving around and dominate the different levels of the Middleweight division, then do the same thing in the light heavyweight division, the cruiserweight division and all the way through to 2004 where he finally adds to his collection the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title and the IBA Heavyweight Title.
For his losses he was undefeated in his first 46 fights, was the IBF Super Middleweight Champion and then he met up with Roy Jones Jr. and suffered his first defeat. His second defeat came right after that against Montell Griffen for the IBF Intercontinental Light Heavyweight title – he also lost to Griffen again for his third loss 10 fights later. His very last defeat was in 1997 to Drake Thadzi again as a Light Heavyweight.
For James’ career we’re talking about a lot of weight gaining and a lot of belts.
It’s interesting that James Toney and John Ruiz both share a similar trait of having unique and unusual fighting styles and that these styles are both on opposite ends of the spectrum. Not quite as extraordinary a difference like Ali and Frazier – the classic outside boxer versus the ‘take 3 to land 1’ inside brawler, but it’s still interesting.
Also there are very close similarities between the two camps. James Toney and Ruiz’s manager/trainer Norman “Stoney” Stone are both incredibly outspoken and it’s hard to get either of them to shut up once they get going.
On the flip side we have John Ruiz and Toney’s trainer Freddie Roach who are both pretty introverted and soft spoken. Usually they do their talking with actions or through someone else. It always seems somewhat painful to get either of them to speak or come alive.
Once these two unique styles meet it should make for a fun night of boxing.
I give Ruiz a lot of credit. He scores big with me as far as courage and confidence go. Not many would so freely and willingly pick Toney to fight. Ruiz has got a lot of faith and loyalty in his own abilities and a mighty big heart. Good for him. I doubt the other “champs” would be – or will be so open to facing James Toney,
I think that “Lights Out” will win on April 30, by how much is to be seen. If Ruiz fights him like he began his November 2004 bout with Andrew Golota going toe to toe and actually boxing, then James will decisively beat him. If “The Quiet Man” fights his normal hugs and kisses fight James will still win, but not with authority.
Either way it’s a “W” for Toney and eventually he’ll unify all the belts and be the undisputed Heavy Champion of the World!
At that moment I imagine James looking up towards the heavens, clutching his chest and yelling:
“Get ready Elizabeth! – I’m comin’ ta join ya honey!”
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