MOSCOW, RUSSIA — The only signature James Toney (73-7-3, 44 KOs) boxing trait still intact earlier today was his pride as the 42-year-old was thoroughly beaten over 12 rounds by Denis Lebedev (23-1, 17 KOs).
The opening rounds made it apparent that Toney had nothing to offer. Whenever the former champion tried to land his patented counter right, his missed wildly and several times nearly fell over. In the second round, one such stumble appeared to cause a leg injury. Lebedev pounced with combinations whenever Toney went to the ropes. In the third, Lebedev nearly scored balance knockdown off a left hook. The punches were too fast for Toney’s slowed reflexes, and the 42-year-old was forced to simply cover up whenever Lebedev went on the offensive.
By the eighth round, Toney’s lack of balance had him stumbling backward from Lebedev’s power shots to the body. Lebedev came close to a stoppage in the ninth with a left hook that wobbled Toney. The former champion immediately responded with defiant trash talk and a few wild, missing haymakers to make it out the round.
The championship rounds found a composed, confident Lebedev focusing his offense to the body. Again, a stoppage appeared close on the 10th and late in the 12th when Toney was hurt by body shots. Each time, Toney mustered flickers on his former famed defense to survive by avoiding potential fight ending head shots.
The scorecards layed clear Denis Lebedev’s dominance — the Russian pitched a shut out on all three cards (120-108 twice, 120-107). A visibly dejected Toney was seen on his stool after the decision. However, he turned defiant during his post-fight interview.
“I’ll see him again.” Toney vowed.
The win is Denis Lebedev’s second consecutive victory over a faded American fighter after knocking out Roy Jones in May. The loss is James Toney’s first in a boxing ring since dropping a decision to Samuel Peter in 2007.
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This was damn sad to watch. Toney kept his pride in not getting KO’d, but it only meant he had to get punished for 12 rounds. Denis Lebedev is an unremarkable fighter, but Toney’s skills have diminished so much he had the Russian looking like Ali in there. Sadly, don’t expect Toney to hang up the gloves anytime soon. Like Roy Jones, let’s just remember the great skills and fights Toney has given us.
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Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 