Prof. Freddie Roach still feels real affection for former student James "Lights Out" Toney.
He knows that Toney will get ticked off reading or hearing this but the trainer of Manny Pacquiao ("Im the best trainer in the world because I train the best fighter in the world," Roach said Wednesday) does not care.
He is repeating his call for Toney, who at age 42 was slurring his speech before he got clobbered by UFC star Randy Couture last Saturday in Roach's hometown of Boston, to hand up his gloves.
And, Roach said, he is himself a bad example for Toney to follow.
"I told James to quit after the second Sam Peter fight. He got hit big shots he never used to get hit with before and it was big heavyweights landing the shots," Roach said. "It's not just the slurring of his speech.
"James got pissed off at me, told me to go buck myself but I still consider him my friend. Those shots have taken a toll and I know from experience.
"My trainer, Eddie (Futch) told me to quit at the right time but I didn't listen to him, I went my own stubborn way. Guess I should've listened to him as I lost four of my last five bouts. So I should have quit myself."
Roach said the freedom to fight can work against a finished fighter.
"I like it, I like living in a country where you get the chance to fight but any commission would have to give James a lot of tests now. If he passes those tests, if he fights, well then he's got that right."
As is well known, Roach suffers from Parkinsonism and sometimes shakes and trembles.
He takes daily medication to control the condition and it has never deterred him from putting in typical, 12 hour workdays with talents like Pacman, Amir Khan and others at his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
Let's hope Roach's friendly advice is carefully considered by Toney, a fighter who have long respected dating back to that summer night in Davenport, Iowa, where I saw him win his first world title by shocking hometown southpaw Michael Nunn.
Shifty lefty Nunn was called "Second To Nunn" but, on that 1991 night by the Mississippi River, he was second to one.
And that magnificent one was a raw but rugged kid from Ann Arbor named James Toney.
No one in Iowa that night or watching it on Tv wondered why they called this Michigander "Lights Out."
All Roach is doing is saying what Stevie Wonder can see, that the lamps are dimming for Toney.
Neither Roach or I brought it up but, come to think on it, Toney could be a trainer also.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Comments
Not yet Mike! Maybe Floyd Sr got something to say good for James Toney. Afterall, Joy is the best trainer of all time! That's what Senior thinks of himself!
at age 63, I can see Li'l Ape slurring and hallucinating & still fighting for $ 100.00 becoz he is flat broke. IRS took all his money, cars, houses, and his Uncle Rogie.
Then Li'l Ape will join Barnum & Bailey circus as a performing monkey to make the extra bucks
yeah, Freddie's absolutely right. Hear it Toney if you don't want to be flesh spring for the rest of your life.
James should learn from Floyd and avoid all the threats / fighters,, and just eat Krispy Kreme while waiting for some young aggressive non-talented fighters who will fall for the trap to fight him.
Toney has always been one of my favorite boxers that really understands the sweet science, he's had a great career and has nothing left to prove, enjoy the second half of your life Toney ... you deserve it and you'll soon be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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