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 An Exclusive MaxBoxing Q&A With James Toney
By Gary Randall & Doug Fischer
(January 22, 2004) Photo © Tom Hogan
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HOLLYWOOD - There are many reasons most of the game's elite fighters go away to a secluded training camp when preparing for a major fight, one of them is so when an injury occurs, it's not public knowledge within hours after it happened.
Bombastic heavyweight contender James Toney isn't the type to hide away in Big Bear for three months, so when he tore his Achilles tendon during a sparring session Wednesday afternoon at the Wild Card Boxing club it happened in front of gym packed with onlookers. Among that wall-to-wall crowd of characters, were four members of the MaxBoxing.com crew - editor Doug Fischer, web master Gary Randall, columnist David Avila and video editor Brian Harty.
Fischer and Avila were there to take notes on the usual ranting and raving that is part of a James Toney sparring session, while Randall and Harty were there to video tape the three-division champ's ring action and antics for a MAX-TV feature that would go along with the writers' columns next week.
There's a reason the Wild Card was crammed with people from not only the local boxing scene, but players from the entertainment industry, body building world and martial arts - Toney does not disappoint. For two and a half rounds of sparring with the 6-foot-3, 270-pound Amani Lee, it looked like the "James Toney Show" was in full swing.
Lee scored a flash knockdown in the first round when he connected with a short right while Toney missed with a swinging left. A fired-up Toney was on his feet quickly and was soon pot-shotting the massive sparring partner behind constant head and waist movement.
It looked like it was going to be a typical Toney session in which the smaller man would out-class, out-work, beat up and humiliate a cadre of big durable fighters. Toney, who was a rock-solid 225 pounds, looked faster and more on-point than he did before his fights with Vassiliy Jirov and Evander Holyfield. His arms and back have never looked as cut and defined. Even Toney's abdominal muscles were showing (and when's the last time we've seen those?) His excellent conditioning only added to his confidence.
He was ready to do anywhere from 11 to 15 rounds with Lee, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Cisse Salif and the tough Terry Smith.
But in the middle of his third round with Lee, disaster struck in the form of a loud "pop". Toney immediately fell to the canvas holding his left leg the way basketball players do when they sprain their ankles. David Avila, who stood quietly at the back of the gym, by trainer Freddie Roach's desk, knew this injury was far worse than any twisted ankle.
"If that's all it was, James would have gotten up and continued to spar," the former amateur boxer said.
Avila was right. Toney tore his Achilles tendon - the large ligament that connects the heel bone to the calf muscle - and he will not be able to fight Jameel McCline on Feb. 7.
Seconds after falling, Toney's leg was wrapped in ice as he repeatedly shouted "F__k!", slamming the canvas with his gloves. He calmed down after about five tense minutes and was moved to the massage table by the ring, where he soon brightened up and cheered on Smith, who was sparring against Salif. He told his sparring partners they "got lucky" and that he'd be back tomorrow to "whup they asses".
But Toney, who will have an operation on the torn tendon by the end of this week, will not do any sort of work out involving his legs for at least three months, let alone sparring.
Randall was able to talk to Toney shortly after the fighter left the Marina Del Rey-based facility of Dr. Tony Daly, a renown boxing specialist.
Here's what MaxBoxing's web master learned:
Gary Randall - James, I know this has to be very disappointing for you, but can you tell us what happened?
James Toney - Jameel McCline got lucky, that's what happened. I was sharp today, I felt good and was ready to go. Then this happened.
GR - When you do think you will fight again?
JT - Well the doctor said six to nine months. So I gotta go back tomorrow and get a better evaluation. Right now I got a cast on.
I've been saying someone's gonna get hurt, but I didn't know it was gonna be me.
GR - How did the injury happen?
JT - When I had the guy against the ropes I tried to throw a hook to finish him off and it felt like my foot snapped off, and that's what happened.
GR - So what do you think you did different then when you normally throw the hook?
JT - I stepped to the left with the hook and I must've stepped wrong, but the doctor said this could happen walkin' down the street.
GR - So are you going to have to have surgery?
JT - Yes. I find out tomorrow what day I'll have it, but the earlier the better. I'm coming right back.
GR - Did they talk to you about rehab on your foot?
JT - Yeah, they said around 45 days. I should be good by summer. This ain't gonna stop me from doing what I gotta do.
I'll train upper body everyday, and they will work on rehabbing the foot. McCline got blessed today, he gets to survive a little while longer before he gets knocked out.
GR - How long ago did you start training?
JT - I've already been training for three months.
GR - Is there anything you'd like to say to the James Toney fans that are obviously disappointed in this fight getting canceled or postponed?
JT - Yes. Thank you all for the support, and I WILL BE BACK. Stay tuned. Don't count me out, I'll be bigger, better, and badder then ever.
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