Background check: James ‘Lights Out’ Toney
James ‘Lights out’ Toney was born August 4th 1968 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Toney holds a Pro Boxing record of 72-6-3 2NC. Toney’s pro boxing career started in 1988 when he knocked out Stephen Lee in two rounds. Toney also holds an amateur record of 31-2 (29ko).
Toney’s long boxing career saw him win the IBF middleweight championship in 1991 by knocking out Michael Nunn in the 11th round, the IBF super-middleweight title in 1993 by knocking out Iran Barkley and the IBF cruiser-weight title in 2002 by beating Vassiliy Jirov via decision.
Toney has a reputation for not ducking any opponents, fighting Roy Jones Jr, Mike Mccallum twice, Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman and Fres Oquendo to name a few. With 116 amateur and pro fights combined and only 8 losses in total Toney has proven his worth in the boxing world as a three-weight world champion.
James Toney is now signed with the UFC after a torrid media affair during which Toney threatened to go to Dana White‘s house to get signed with the organization, he has also spent a lot of time talking about how he feels he is the next great MMA fighter as well as calling out most of the UFC’s HW division.
Only time will tell if the boxing legend will be successful in the world of MMA and with rumors of a debut against hall of famer Randy Couture, I think Toney will have his work cut out for him.
