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Ruiz to Defend Title Against Toney

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Times Staff Writer

John Ruiz has agreed to defend his World Boxing Assn. heavyweight title against James Toney, according to Dan Goossen, Toney’s promoter. Staples Center is a possible site for the fight, to be held in May or June.

“The belts don’t make me, I make the belts,” said the 36-year-old Toney, an L.A. resident who has won championship belts from major sanctioning bodies in three other weight classes. He has been the International Boxing Federation’s titleholder in the cruiserweight, super-middleweight and middleweight divisions.

Goossen said he and Don King, who promotes Ruiz, would explore sites in the East Coast, Michigan (Toney’s home state), Las Vegas and Staples Center.

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After winning the cruiserweight title with a victory over Vassiliy Jirov in 2003, Toney beat Evander Holyfield later that year. But Holyfield was already a shot fighter by then, barely recognizable as the man who four times had held the heavyweight crown.

Toney will be trying to emulate Roy Jones, who went all the way from middleweight to win a heavyweight championship. Jones did it in 2003 against the same fighter, Ruiz, holding the same title, the WBA crown.

“I will eat him up inside,” Toney said of Ruiz.

Fighting for a heavyweight championship has long been a dream for Toney but in the last year, his goal has just been to fight. Serious injuries have twice cast doubt on his ability to maintain his skill level. In January 2004, he ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon. Then in September, while fighting Rydell Booker, Toney ruptured a tendon in his left elbow.

Toney said Tuesday he was completely fit.

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