James “Lights Out” Toney Becomes Eight-Time World Champ
On April 7 at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi, seven-time champion and future Hall of Famer James “Lights Out” Toney (73-7-3, 44 KOs) received a five-round workout against Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” Gunn (21-4-1, 18 KOs) during which he was only lightly tested. Toney, at 43 years old, sported a softened midsection (he weighed in at 248 pounds) but displayed still-sharp reflexes and head movement as he stalked the younger Gunn and relied upon his slickness and considerable experience to avoid absorbing shots. Gunn landed a few lefts, mostly hooks, throughout the first five rounds that sent the sweat flying, but Toney’s popping jabs, one-two combos and lethal rights nullified any potential momentum for the less-experienced fighter. After round 5, Gunn failed to answer the bell due to a broken hand sustained in round 4, allowing Toney to become an eight-time world champion and new holder of the IBU Heavyweight Championship title.
The co-main event, in the junior middleweight division, featured Justin Flanagan (9-2, 5 KOs) and Bobby Bryant (13-0, 9 KOs) in a one-sided affair that went the distance. Flanagan squandered most of his energy rushing in head-first and tying up, and looked outclassed versus Bryant, a hometown favorite from nearby Memphis who frequently inspired chants from the crowd. Flanagan’s main accomplishment was his ability to avoid being knocked down through the eight-rounder, since along the way he was hit with every punch Bryant could throw at him–including echoing body shots, sneaky left hooks and straight rights–but he was never truly hurt by the onslaught, calling Bryant’s power into question despite his high KO percentage. Still, the judges saw a near-shutout for the undefeated Memphian: Reccia Mullins scored the bout 79-73, while Gerald Deming and Mack Thornton saw it 80-72, all in favor of Bryant.
Check back for full fight report.
April 8, 2012 at 10:26 AM
World champ??
April 8, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Nothing wrong with covering this match. But please don’t call this a title fight. Of course, it is not, and it confuses young people who may want to become boxing fans. Oh wait…no young people are trying to becoming boxing fans. Part of the reason is calling fights like this a world championship.
April 8, 2012 at 11:18 AM
can u do longer article on Toney? what were the other 7 titles referred to here?
April 8, 2012 at 10:22 PM
Well, Toney first won the IBF middleweight title by starching Michael Nunn, then won the IBF super middleweight title by beating Iran Barkley mercilessly, then he won the IBF cruiserweight title from Vassily Jirov. After that, he wrested the heavyweight title away from John Ruiz, but popped positive for steroids, and was stripped. SO, by my count, that’s three, not 7… Four, if you wanna give him the Ruiz fight. Other that those, I imagine that the author (and Toney) like to include the IBA and IBU titles, for whatever they’re worth…
April 9, 2012 at 12:45 AM
buddy, when you beat a champion in the ring for a belt you are a champion as recognized by that organization. you want to diminish his accomplishments thats fine…you want to dismiss him…then start your own organization and leave toney out of the rankings. the facts are these…he is the best boxer fighting today..the best pure boxer fighting today…period. i will miss him when he is gone. i bet you worship at the altar that is manny.
April 8, 2012 at 1:51 PM
bryant.young looked good.he young power will come.19 bright future.u sldnt rite no power on here.hope he reads it and use 2 inspire himself.he stay busy all he needs.which he doing.u should thank john 4 that
April 8, 2012 at 2:16 PM
who writes this at least he calls it like he sees it props
April 9, 2012 at 10:59 AM
The Bryant Brothers looked Great! Their both young, and have great futures ahead of them!!! All that matters at the end of the match is who got the “W” and both of them took it home!!!! Bryant has Power, No question about that! But its a little hard to fight someone when all they do is hold!! and want to dance thru the bouts. Flanagan was surviving and holding on for dear life!!! Little Bryant even knocked him down which the ref said was a slip, i was their and saw Bryants glove hit him, He knocked him DOWN!
, Little Bryant had Steven cox on the Mat and had his legs buckeled through out all 4 rounds!!! The crowd raised the roof for these two brothers came out and thru out their fights!! Great fight Bryant Brothers, cant wait to see you guys fight in Memphis again!!!
Alot of people in the crowd questioned wether or not Gunn really broke his hand! I would of liked to have seen it go the distance, but in the end we all new Tonney would take the belt home!!
Great night of Boxing!!!
April 9, 2012 at 2:09 PM
wat belt toney get.ibu!!! bs!!!my belt holding up my levis worth more.fite a joke.anyone agree? was shit fite when made. if i cant pick 99%winners ill never post again.which means there shit fites. ps toney washed up braindead anybody he whips needs 2 b ashamed 2 say the r a boxer.
April 9, 2012 at 11:02 AM
sorry meant older bryant above not little bryant in above paragraph!!
April 9, 2012 at 2:10 PM
good eye jose respect to u
April 9, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Which title did Toney win?? As far as I know, all the titles are owned by the Klitsko brothers.
April 9, 2012 at 5:49 PM
ibu nothing title u can start ur title 4 100 bucks 2 day. ring only champ.if u dont know that stay away from discussion involving boxing.u got to be an idiot. all hang n there ill school u
April 10, 2012 at 12:13 PM
IBA is a joke and anyone who calls it a world title is a joke. that is all
April 10, 2012 at 12:28 PM
Toney looks like a fat piece of $hit.
April 10, 2012 at 5:28 PM
Nonsense! This is what hurts Boxing. Don’t call this a Title fight. This is what the UFC did to try to fool their fans into thinking that Toney was still representing the best of Heavyweight Boxing. Toney has been done as a competitor for years. He was great in the 90′s. However, those days are gone.
April 11, 2012 at 9:44 PM
James Toney still can beat most younger guys n his division,so respect te man and recognize his talents and if any of u have a guy that u think can beat him then just mann up bruh!!
April 23, 2012 at 5:43 PM
the iba is a well respected organization,its been around just as long as the ibo and wbo belts,besides the ibf back in the mid 90′s almost folded do to ill going on’s with in the chairman’s board.the wbc is not whats it was,ever since issuing muay thai and pro wrestling belts its rep has gon down… a world title is what you make of it.
April 29, 2012 at 4:52 PM
NAME ONE LIVE BODY N TOP 25THAT CANT WHIP HIM.MAN HEADED TO GRAVE HE KEEPS FITEN.TONEY DONE.WAT A JOKE. AND NO I DONT HIDE BEHIND FAKE NAMES LIKE UR D-ASS
ONLY SPEAKING TRUTHS ON HERE DNT LIKE IT DNT READ IT
April 29, 2012 at 4:54 PM
TONEY DEAD MAN WALKING U OUGHT TO KNOW THAT. CANT WHIP NO TOP 25 GUYS U R IDIOT
April 29, 2012 at 5:29 PM
WHERE MY FR. JOSE.MAN GOT KNOWLEDGE