Tomasz Adamek Bottoms Outs, Signs To Fight Toney

**GorDoom** · 07-03-2012, 10:43 AM

Tomasz Adamek Bottoms Out: Signs to Fight Faded James “Lights Out” Toney
By Johnny Walker/Boxing Insider

You’ll have to forgive me for having a “WTF?” moment today when I heard that Polish heavyweight Tomasz “Goral” Adamek is planning to fight washed-up, 43-year-old heavyweight James “Lights Out” Toney at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on the afternoon of September 8.
The Klitschko brothers have ended or severely and negatively altered the course of many other boxers’ careers (ask Calvin Brock), and it’s starting to look like Adamek is not the same fighter that he was before being destroyed and humiliated by WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in front of his Polish fans last year in Wroclaw.
Since coming back from the Klitschko abyss, Adamek has looked mediocre in a points win against journeyman heavyweight Nagy Aguilera, and even less impressive in barely eking out a win against a “Fast” Eddie Chambers who was fighting with one arm after an injury early in the bout.
Interestingly, neither Adamek nor his trainer Roger Bloodworth appeared to notice that Chambers was only using his right hand for the majority of the fight.
And so now: James “Lights Out” Toney.
It’s hard not to see the choice of Toney as a cynical move by Adamek and his promoter, Main Events. This fight is going to be a Pay-Per-View feature in Poland, and the loyal Polish fans residing in the Newark area will likely flock to the Prudential Center once again to see their hero lay a certain beating on the sadly hapless former great Toney, whose reflexes are now a mere shadow of what they were even a few years ago.
As has been said many times recently by myself and others, James Toney has no business in a boxing ring in 2012.
“I heard an interview with him the other night and he is clearly brain damaged,” ESPN boxing scribe Dan Rafael said recently.
“I don’t say that to mock him in any way. I have been a Toney fan for many years. But he sounded like he was chewing on rocks. It is sick and sad that any commission would allow him to enter a ring. I am not a doctor but James sounds way worse today than he did just a year or two ago.”
But Toney–who was totally humiliated by Russian cruiserweight Denis Lebedev late last year in a Moscow whitewash, and then scored a win over club-level fighter Bobby Gunn in a non-televised bout when the latter man broke his hand–has his reasons for fighting on.
353,966 reasons, exactly – the amount of dollars the California State Government recently said that Toney owes in back taxes.
Probably the happiest person to hear about this fight will be Toney’s unofficial videographer Elie Seckbach, who always seems to show up wherever the fighter is to get him to mumble a few punchy, obscene and repetitive putdowns of other boxers, like a kid tormenting a caged animal at the zoo.

For all but his most delusional fans—and there are still more than a few of them around—the James Toney show long ago morphed from a riveting drama to a tragicomedy.
This fight with Adamek could be—should be, in fact—Toney’s final act in boxing.
Anything less than a stoppage win for Adamek over a shot former legend will be regarded a failure in front of his adoring Polish fans.
For those who like rubbernecking at traffic accidents, maybe this match-up has a certain dark, baleful appeal.
But for the rest us, well … pass the Pepto Bismol, because I feel a little queasy.

**diggity** · 07-03-2012, 08:47 PM

As disgusting as this is, it's no surprise.
Adamek never had a real chance at beating a Klitschko.
He knows it and so does his camp.
He might as well face Toney who at least has some name recognition, even if its because he loves Burger King more than boxing.
Adamek got a gift in his last fight.
If he can barely win a fight against a contender with 1 arm, he may as well take on Toney and make whatever money he can.

**Overhand_Right** · 07-04-2012, 02:49 AM

A journalist who uses 'WTF' in his articles... Oh, come back Budd Schulberg! Also - the Klits ended Calvin Brock's career? Hang on, wasn't it actually Eddie Chambers who ended Brock's career? Speaking of Chambers, how did Adamek barely beat him? It was a one sided decision.

Incredible how these internet writers can just spew whatever they like into cyber space.

**KOJOE90** · 07-04-2012, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Overhand_Right

A journalist who uses 'WTF' in his articles... Oh, come back Budd Schulberg! Also - the Klits ended Calvin Brock's career? Hang on, wasn't it actually Eddie Chambers who ended Brock's career? Speaking of Chambers, how did Adamek barely beat him? It was a one sided decision.

Incredible how these internet writers can just spew whatever they like into cyber space.

Troo dat bro, Back In The Day old schoolz writers was proper SICK!!!

**diggity** · 07-04-2012, 09:33 PM

Dan Rafael chimes in

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/8128803/why

**apollack** · 07-04-2012, 11:14 PM

Eh, so what? Adamek is a former light heavy. Toney is a former middleweight, but have to give it to him, he's never been stopped at any weight division. Adamek has been taking on a relatively solid level of opposition, such that I'm willing to give him a pass on this one. It is in the spirit of the best and worst traditions of boxing, as they say. If you don't like it, you don't have to watch. But I will watch, because if James happens to get in shape, it could be somewhat interesting, because he is a cagey, experienced, skilled veteran. Most likely Adamek will out-hustle him to a decision, sure. But it's better than if he fought some total stiff, which happens quite often in boxing. Not trying to sell the fight, but not joining in on the excoriation.

**diggity** · 07-05-2012, 04:44 PM

I totally hear you, but if you saw how horrible JT looked in his last fight, you would remove all hope for JT regardless of what weight or condition he brings into the ring.
In the past 6 years he has declined in a way that would or should scare any boxing fan.

**jlupi** · 07-06-2012, 09:55 AM

didnt JT suffer a relatively severe knee injury early in his last fight?

**Overhand_Right** · 07-06-2012, 11:57 AM

Don't know serious it was but you see it happen in round two or three, Toney loading up and throwing one of many desperate, telegraphed and humongous right hands, off balance. He looked very poor all night. Sad spectacle. Wonder how proud Lebedev is of these 40+ big name scalps he's collecting.

**jlupi** · 07-06-2012, 05:12 PM

Just watched the first 2 rds of the lebedev fight. despite JT looking in shape, for him, his timing and balance was horrid.

**mrbig1** · 07-07-2012, 05:57 PM

It's all about money. If Toney beats Adamek his career is over. Enjoy the payday. It could be the last good one.

**diggity** · 07-07-2012, 06:24 PM

The last good glimpse we saw of JT is long gone.
For someone with the wear & tear he put his body through over the years, shots like the ones he weathered in the second Peter fight are going to do some serious damage.
In 2003, JT beats Adamek with ease.
In 2012, JT takes a useless beating - which will sink him deeper into dementia.