On April 26, 2003, a 34-year-old James Toney (65-4-2, 42 KOs) got a shot at the IBF cruiserweight title held by 29-year-old Kazakhstani boxer Vassiliy Jirov (31-0, 27 KOs).
Toney came in to the fight on a 11-fight win streak with a 59% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 8 months and 8 days. Jirov was on a 31-fight win streak with a 87% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 1 year, 2 months, and 25 days.
James Toney defeated Vassiliy Jirov via unanimous decision and wins the IBF title. Toney improves his record to 66-4-2, while Jirov adds a loss to his record at 31-1.
On May 10, 1991, a 22-year-old James Toney (25-0-1, 18 KOs) got a shot at the IBF middleweight title held by 28-year-old Michael Nunn (36-0, 24 KOs).
Toney came in to the fight on a 5-fight win streak with a 69% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 10 days. Nunn was on a 36-fight win streak with a 66% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 6 months and 22 days.
James Toney stopped the champion via TKO in the 11th round of the 12-round world-title fight, winning the first world title of his career, and is crowned the new IBF middleweight champion. Toney improves his record to 26-0-1 (19 KOs), while Nunn adds a loss to his record at 36-1.
On March 5, 1994, the 25-year-old IBF super-middleweight world champion, James Toney (41-0-2, 27 KOs), faced Tim Littles, in a title defense fight.
Toney came in to the fight on a 13-fight win streak with a 62% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 17 days.
James Toney stopped Tim Littles via TKO in the 4th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his IBF super-middleweight title. Toney improves his record to 42-0-2 (28 KOs)
On February 13, 1993, a 24-year-old James Toney (33-0-2, 22 KOs) got a shot at the IBF super-middleweight title held by 32-year-old Iran Barkley (30-7, 18 KOs).
Toney came in to the fight on a 5-fight win streak with a 62% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 8 days. Barkley was on a 5-fight win streak with a 48% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 2 months and 8 days.
The champion refused to continue the fight in the 9th round, and James Toney is crowned the new IBF super-middleweight world champion. Toney improves his record to 34-0-2 (23 KOs), while Barkley adds a loss to his record at 30-8.
On October 12, 1991, the 23-year-old IBF middleweight world champion, James Toney (27-0-1, 19 KOs), faced Francesco Dell'Aquila, in a title defense fight.
Toney came in to the fight on a 7-fight win streak with a 67% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 13 days.
James Toney stopped Francesco Dell'Aquila via TKO in the 4th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his IBF middleweight title. Toney improves his record to 28-0-1 (20 KOs)
On August 29, 1992, James Toney and Mike McCallum met again in a rematch.
Toney came in to the fight on a 3-fight win streak with a 63% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 3 days. McCallum was on a 1-fight win streak with a 75% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 3 months and 8 days.
James Toney defeated Mike McCallum via majority decision in the rematch and successfully defended his IBF middleweight title. Toney improves his record to 32-0-2, while McCallum adds a loss to his record at 43-2-1.
On July 29, 1994, the 25-year-old IBF super-middleweight world champion, James Toney (43-0-2, 28 KOs), faced Charles Williams, in a title defense fight.
Toney came in to the fight on a 15-fight win streak with a 62% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 11 days.
James Toney stopped Charles Williams via KO in the final round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his IBF super-middleweight title. Toney improves his record to 44-0-2 (29 KOs)
On October 29, 1993, the 25-year-old IBF super-middleweight world champion, James Toney (39-0-2, 26 KOs), faced Tony Thornton, in a title defense fight.
Toney came in to the fight on a 11-fight win streak with a 63% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 5 days.
James Toney defeated Tony Thornton via unanimous decision and successfully defended his IBF super-middleweight title. Toney improves his record to 40-0-2
On December 13, 1991, the 23-year-old IBF middleweight world champion, James Toney (28-0-1, 20 KOs), faced a 36-year-old Jamaican boxer Mike McCallum (42-1, 34 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Toney came in to the fight on a 8-fight win streak with a 69% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 1 day. McCallum was on a 10-fight win streak with a 79% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 2 months and 3 days.
The fight ended in a split decision draw and both the fighters added a draw to their respective records — Toney is now 28-0-2 and McCallum, 42-1-1.
On April 11, 1992, the 23-year-old IBF middleweight world champion, James Toney (29-0-2, 20 KOs), faced Glenn Wolfe, in a title defense fight.
Toney came in to the fight on a 1-fight win streak with a 64% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 3 days.
James Toney defeated Glenn Wolfe via unanimous decision and successfully defended his IBF middleweight title. Toney improves his record to 30-0-2