37 Facts About James Toney

James Nathaniel Toney was born on August 24,1968 and is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2017.

James Toney held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the IBF and lineal middleweight titles from 1991 to 1993, the IBF super middleweight title from 1993 to 1994, and the IBF cruiserweight title in 2003.

Stylistically a defensive boxer, James Toney utilized the shoulder roll technique taught to him by veteran trainer Bill Miller, who had once trained heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles.

James Toney was an exceptional counterpuncher and inside fighter, who often preferred to fight off the ropes.

James Toney possessed fast hand speed and respectable punching power throughout his career and is noted for his toughness, having never lost any of his 92 professional bouts via stoppage.

In 1991 and 2003, James Toney was voted Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

In 2001, James Toney played the role of Joe Frazier in the movie Ali alongside Will Smith.

James Toney was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US At around age 11, James Toney first entered a boxing gym, but did not seriously pursue the sport until graduating high school.

James Toney was supposedly involved in an altercation with future Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders while at a Michigan training camp.

James Toney had a brief but relatively successful amateur career, compiling a record of 33 wins and 2 losses.

James Toney had his first professional fight on October 26,1988, beating Stephen Lee by a technical knockout in the second round.

James Toney employed the services of legendary Detroit-based trainer Bill Miller.

Miller, a former boxer himself who worked in Detroit's famed Kronk Gym and assisted hall-of-fame trainer Emanuel Steward at times, is credited with developing James Toney's famed "old school" or "throwback" style of fighting.

James Toney won the IBF and lineal middleweight titles by knocking out Michael Nunn in eleven rounds in May 1991.

James Toney, who entered as a 20-to-1 underdog, was down on all three judges' scorecards, but landed a left hook that put Nunn on the canvas in the eleventh round, and eventually scored a stoppage victory.

James Toney continued a regular fight program over the next 18 months at middleweight, before outgrowing the division, where he made several successful yet disputed defenses.

James Toney won a split decision title defense against Reggie Johnson in June 1991, retained his title with a draw against former WBA champ Mike McCallum in December 1991, and again against McCallum, this time by a majority decision, in December 1992.

On February 13,1993, James Toney challenged Iran Barkley for the IBF super middleweight title.

James Toney won five fights throughout 1993, then defeated Tony "The Punching Postman" Thornton in his 1st title defense in October, via a landslide points victory.

James Toney's next fight saw him lose to Montell Griffin at light heavyweight in February 1995.

James Toney beat old foe Mike McCallum in February 1997, but then lost to journeyman Drake Thadzi in his next fight.

James Toney defeated former title holders and title contenders Adolpho Washington, Steve Little, Ramon Garbey, Saul Montana, Sione Asipeli, Courtney Butler, and Michael Rush.

The Kazakh rose from the canvas to go to the distance, but James Toney got the judges verdict and was now a three-weight World Champion.

Immediately afterward, James Toney moved up to heavyweight, where he campaigned for the next 7 years.

On September 23,2004, James Toney faced off with Rydell Booker.

However, James Toney failed his post-fight drug test, testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol.

The WBA ordered that Ruiz be reinstated as its champion and that James Toney be ineligible for another WBA Heavyweight title shot for two years.

James Toney defended himself by claiming that the steroids were given to him by a doctor to treat the arm injury he suffered during the Rydell Booker fight.

James Toney next fought against Hasim Rahman on March 18,2006, for the WBC Heavyweight title.

The return bout was held in Hollywood, Florida, on January 6,2007, and James Toney lost to Peter, this time by unanimous decision.

On February 24,2011, James Toney made his return to boxing and won a ten-round unanimous decision against Damon Reed.

James Toney travelled to Australia in April 2013 to face Lucas Browne for the WBF heavyweight title.

James Toney defeated Mike Sheppard by sixth round stoppage; winning the WBF heavyweight title.

James Toney is well known for his "old school" or "throwback" style of boxing, which consisted of frequent head movement and shoulder rolls to avoid punches, as well as his ability to fight off the ropes using slick upper body movement and in-fighting.

James Toney was spotted in attendance at UFC 108 on January 2,2010, which led to talks between him and UFC President Dana White regarding fighting in the organization.

James Toney's debut fight was against UFC Hall of Famer and former UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight champion Randy Couture at UFC 118 on August 28,2010.

James Toney was released from his contract with the UFC.