James Toney. Under-rated?

I don't get it. Are you implying that ATG fighters never have off-nights against inferior opponents or receive questionable decisions?

 

There are too many excuses made for Toney.

 

He's underrated by some and overrated by some. Same as with most.

Most does give him due for being a tremendously skillful fighter, but he had his fair share of embarrassing displays and that must be weighed in as well.

 

But the Tiberi fight wasn't a questionable decision, it was one of the worst robberies of all time.

 

I liked the way he was able to become a contender/titlist in just about every division from 160 to heavyweight.
But the problem is, on the other hand, people want to make a lot of excuses for him due to his 'weight problems'.
Almost every time he got beat he is said to be 'weight-drained' then went back to the doughnuts and steroids and moved up a division.

I think Roy Jones Jr. would have utterly schooled him at any weight he choose, any time from 1992 to 2003.

Some of the 'names' Toney gets credit for beating could easily have even more legitimate 'weight drained' excuses (if you buy into that kinda thing) than the ones he himself is afforded.

 

Well, it was well known even during Toney's day that he ballooned between fights and had problems making weight. One can hear commentators mentioning it as far back as his MW days I think.

Duran post LW is the only fighter I can think of that had so well known issues with making weight.

How much the weight issues influenced his performances one can only guess, but what we know for sure is that he only had himself to blame.

 

Yes, we have to judge him on what he is, not an "imaginary Toney".

 

Absolutely. His losses are negative for his legacy, whether one believes weight issues played a part or not. A fighters professionalism and dedication is an integral part of him.

 

Barely edged Johnson, Nunn and McCallum are his best wins. Wolfe and Littles and Hembrick (anyone remember Booker T. Ward) were mediocre, DeWitt, Barkely and Thornton were past it, Charles Williams boiled down to 168 lbs, kind of like LaLonde v. Leonard.

 

His skill level is totally under rated, but only by fanboy types, and they simply don't matter.

Jones Jr could never turn up for a fight in the condition Toney sometimes turned up in and indeed won fights. It is called natural ability, as opposed to fanatical training and conditioning.

 

Nunn is average? :roll:

 

This.

Not to mention that he went from Middle to HEAVY and never got stopped! And he never got stopped over a 20+ year career!

Definition of "Natural", IMO.

 

i think so, style wise he was definitely underrated...i think at HW he was a defensive masterpeice

i rewatch his fights often and at HW especially he had an advanced rope a dope style...he would lay on the ropes and let his opponents throw, and he would shoulder roll and duck making his opponent miss almost everything, and then he'd pop them with an uppercut that would knock their heads up and send the sweat flying....you really saw this trick against Sam Peter...say whT you will about Peter but he was a big dude and he could hit. most guys would never lay on the ropes against someone like that.

i think what hurts Toney most are those lost years in the late 90s up until his resurgance at cruiser in 2003 where he basically did next to nothing..
that and his failed PED test followin Ruiz fight
if you ask me tho, that style was legit

 

Very good.few fighters in history around his weight could beat him