Sims was Hagler's half-brother,and no,that victory is not underrated.Robbie Sims was NOT world class.Mike Watson stopped Benn when they were about the same age and had the same experience.Any version of Benn stands NO CHANCE against a prime Mike McCallum.Benn would not have outboxed Mike and would have had to knock him out.No way on earth that's happening.
Eubie has a fair chance against anyone if fully motivated. Trouble was he rarely was. always extricating himself at the eleventh hour to win a fight that he was written to lose. I dont think Toney could hurt Eubank. I doubt Eubank could hurt Toney. We are looking at a decision but they would both take a good battering. And then afterwards, prime RJJ and Calzaghe would come along and decision them both (then RJJ would turn to face Cal and cheekily KO him at the last moment).
Didn't Sumbu say Sims was a better body puncher than McCallum? Anyone who beats Duran and Barkley before they were past-it is world-class in my book!
a lot of people underrate Eubank because he took so many fights half heartedly later in his career, like when he was very unfit and weight drained against Calzaghe. Eubank was like that, he didnt mind experimenting with his body and legacy meant little to him. If he had cared about his legacy in the way Cal and RJJ had then he would be more highly respected and would have kept an undefeated record until he was in his 30s. Aha but then you could say the same about BurgerKing Toney too.
Did Sumbu say Sims would have beaten McCallum? Not that that would matter anyway.Duran was most certainly past it when he fought Sims.Even though Duran wasn't shot,he proved to be past it by losing to Laing at 154 a couple of years earlier.The only reason he was in the Hagler fight was because Marvin wasn't his normal aggressive self.In fact,the only good middleweight Duran beat was Barkley himself,who was tough but extremely limited.And just when did Sims beat Barkley-in about both of their 10th professional fight?No,Sims wasn't world class.Good,but nothing spectacular.Are you a Benn fan,btw?
Calzahge would never beat Toney. Danny Green KO's Calzaghe, these British Super Middleweights aren't very good. In fact Michael Watson would have ended up being the best of the lot. I like Benn but he's very limited, a lot like Green.
sorry I was kinda being jokey in that last line. I would never completely rule Calzaghe out against Toney but I agree that Toney would carry the advantage with skill and power, probably knocking Cal over as he had a tendency to fall to anyone with power+skill. Cal might just find a way to win too, though most likely he'd do that by waiting till Toney was 40 before getting it on with him, getting knocked down in round 1 and then getting up to SD him.
Sims a very good fighter - beat Marlon Starling a few times just before they turned pro and took most of his pro fights on short notice, but he had a camp for Benn and fought his natural stance (righty/orthodox) rather than Petronelli-influenced southpaw stance. Benn knocked him out for the first time in his career - even thousands and thousands of rounds paid well as Hagler's sparring partner Sims never went down.. underrated win/performance for Benn esp considering he was coming off the most devastating of brutal losses just five months before.
Once again,what victory in Sims career would indicate that he was world class?Sims,like Doug DeWitt,was good at world level-nothing special.That's it.I personally know of no one that rates him high.But if you choose to do so,go right ahead.
I could never say with any amount of certainty, as I feel this fight is as even as it gets. If I had to pick one to win I would go with James Toney but would not be at all surprised if Eubank beat him.