Middleweight Champ Set for the Big Stage

James Toney, the national middleweight boxing champion would soon embark or a training regimen that would put him on the big stage to enable him to achieve his world championship ambition within the shortest possible time.

Mr Anthony Kermah, manager of the boxer said he has begun consultations with some top boxing managers to have Toney in their gym and polish him up to challenge the big names in the division.

Toney is now rated fourth by the Commonwealth Boxing Commission and remains undefeated after 13 fights since turning professional about 19 months ago. He was an African champion and a Commonwealth bronze medallist in his amateur days.

He said though Toney has proved himself by defeating all opposition on the continent he would not rush him into the big arena because the boxer still needs to learn a few more things which would eliminate his vulnerability when he tackles the big boys in the middleweight class.

"More importantly, Toney would have to be known at the places where boxing matters in order to increase his value and this could only be done by giving him the opportunity to showcase his talent before those who dictate the tune."

Mr Kermah said his boxer's major attributes are his courage and strength which are the vital elements that every potential world champion should have. He added that James had proved that by fighting 13 times in 19 months. "All that he needs now is some more experience to cap his valour and announce his arrival at the world stage."

He said his plan is to make sure that Toney gets rated among the first 10 by the major boxing controlling bodies within the next 16 months "and from there we would map out our strategy to wrestle the world belt and put Ghana back on the world boxing map."

The manager said contrary to views by a school of boxing followers that Toney has fought only nobodies in the division to date, his boxer's opponents have been very tough nuts and advised their detractors 'to give him the recognition the deserves."

"At 13-0 with 12 knockouts and with Zankot Khalid, the current African super welterweight champion as one of his knockout victims my boy has concluded the first stage of his career with distinction and nobody can take the credit away from him.

"He is going to the big stage with a bang. Ghana boxing would be the winner when we attain our objective," he said.