James 'Lights Out' Toney has thrown down the gauntlet to Jake Paul. The retired boxing legend says he'll come out of retirement to be the first man to knock out the former YouTube star.
Toney, a 56-year-old Hall of Famer from Michigan, won world titles in several weight divisions during his career. He made his mark in 1991 with an 11th-round knockout of Michael Nunn to claim the IBF middleweight title as a massive underdog. Later, in 2003, he showcased his skills at heavyweight with a dominant TKO victory over Evander Holyfield.
Now, Toney has his sights set on Jake Paul. The 28-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, has been making waves in boxing since his pro debut in 2020. Paul has faced notable opponents like Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley, and Nate Diaz. He suffered his first loss in February 2023 when Tommy Fury outpointed him in a cruiserweight contest in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to ESNEWS, Toney didn't mince words about a potential fight with Paul:
"As you've already seen, every time I say Jake Paul he turns the other way, it's no problem if he wants to fight me, I'm not taking no dive. I don't do that. I'm gonna knock your a** out."
Toney's comments hint at past accusations that Paul's fights might be pre-determined. The boxing legend makes it clear he won't play along with any scripted outcomes.
Paul's next fight is scheduled for June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim. He'll face former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
If Toney and Paul were to meet in the ring, the veteran boxer would risk facing the same fate as Mike Tyson, who Paul beat in Texas last November. However, Toney seems confident in his ability to end Paul's run and has expressed interest in this matchup on multiple occasions.
As the boxing world watches, the ball is now in Jake Paul's court to respond to this challenge from a true legend of the sport.
