PRESS RELEASE: With Russian behemoth Vitali Klitschko’s professional boxing career sailing off to the Siberian sunset along with the unrealized dominance predicted by the “boxing experts,” the fans had their opportunity to upstage these experts with their own expertise and votes when thesweetscience.com website recently ran a two-week (Nov. 10-24) fan poll asking the question:  “A Year From Now, Who Will Be the Dominant Heavyweight?” The votes are in – 2,432 in all – and the fans have spoken.  For their money, James “Light Out” Toney, garnering 34% of the vote (819 votes), will be the man who dominates the heavyweight division for the next year and beyond.

 

In the fan poll, Toney outdistanced runner-up Wladimir Klitschko (30%, 730 votes).  Following thereafter, WBO champion Lamon Brewster (16%, 382); with Toney’s next challenger, WBC titleholder Hasim Rahman (11%, 266) coming in a distant fourth according to the fans.  The last 2 spots being occupied by the IBF champion Chris Byrd (6%, 158) and WBA champion John Ruiz (3%, 77) as the least likely to obtain this status.

 

Being the pre-eminent heavyweight in the world is by no means news to either Toney or his promoter, Dan Goossen, who have been proclaiming Toney’s place atop the heavyweight ladder since the two hooked up shortly after the birth of Goossen Tutor Promotions in 2002.  What is becoming undeniably clear, however, is that the boxing public is jumping on the Toney bandwagon recognizing both his skills inside and outside the ropes and his willingness to step in there with anyone at anytime.

 

His legion of supporters will soon see Toney taking the first step toward heavyweight domination when he steps into the ring against Rahman as the WBC mandatory challenger for the latter’s world title belt. 

 

“I’m with the fans and their vote of James domination in the heavyweight division,” Goossen confidently stated. “He wants to show his old school talent against Rahman and then be what the fans, media and networks so desperately want---an exciting, charismatic and talented world heavyweight champion willing to fight.”

 

Toney will display some of his public panache on Thursday night, December 8th as “Lights Out” Lights Up at Monty’s Steakhouse, 5371 Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Woodland Hills, CA.  The event, which starts at 7:00 pm, will be a Cigar Dinner at which James Toney will unveil his new Signature Cigar soon to be sold at Lou’s Cigars, 19319 Ventura Boulevard, Tarzana, CA  91356. 

 

Reservations for the Cigar Dinner are being accepted by calling (818) 996-1110 or     (818) 442-1230.  The cost is $150 per person.