List of HW champs "Big" James Toney spanks-

IBF champs: Charles Martin, Hasim Rahman (both were past it when they fought), Old Holyfield, Frans Botha.

WBO: Briggs, Liakovich (maybe), Brewster (maybe), Hide, Bennt, Morrison, Mercer (maybe).

 

The only problem is that Peter beat Toney behind a jab in the rematch. If Foreman actually went with that strategy, he might win.

 

No.

 

Of that group, he might beat the Cinderella man, he might not.

He would not worry any of the rest.

 

I agree his stamina ain't great. But I don't think it's quite as bad as the Ali fight indicates, either.

I think Foreman was a better, and harder, puncher than either Peter or Rahman. He hurt his opponents more easily than either of the latter guys, and was better at forcing them into a shell.

Toney wasn't exactly a powerhouse either. He did stop (old) Evander via accumulation to the body, which isn't nothing, but Fat Toney's overhand rights just bounced off genuine heavyweights. I don't think Fat Toney lost much power compared to Big Toney.

Foreman isn't going to be missing all the time. Toney's body can be guarded, but it's not able to bob and weave like Toney's head. Big Toney was still a relatively stationary guy, and even Ali, despite his ability to evade shots, had to sacrifice his body to George for most of the fight. Foreman is going to connect, IMO.

Granted that Foreman's dodgy mental state post Zaire is not some be-all, end-all argument in his favor. I've always thought it was overplayed. But I think we both agree that it's also *there*, and should be taken into account.

Young was the better man that night than Foreman, but then, Young was also a flat-out better heavyweight than Toney, too. If Young had received the kinds of championship nods that Ali enjoyed, he would have been champ until Holmes took it from him, with all three of the late 70s Golden Boys on his record.

What Foreman did to people worked. Foreman was good enough at cutting off the ring, jabbing, etc. that he forced much prettier boxers to stand and fight his stupid rock-em-sock-em robots fight.

You are correct that he fouled. And -- this is key -- he got away with it. Refs also tolerated punching Toney to the back of his head to some degree (e.g., Peter fight) because of the way he ducked. Foreman's unsportsmanlike conduct, pushing Toney off balance to set up shots, hitting behind the head, etc. is just something that Toney will have to deal with. As all of Foreman's other opponents had to deal with it.

Also, if DQs start getting thrown around, it's more likely that Toney fails a drug test as he did after Ruiz.

 

Schmeling wasn't hurt or in trouble in first Sharkey fight. Saying that he "goit bailed out by low blows" in 4th round of 15 rounder is simply inaccurate. Max is the kind of fighter who gets better as the fight went on.

 

The only thing I have to ask about Schmeling knocking out Toney is with what object will he accomplish that with?

 

He was losing badly.

 

No, he wasn't. He clearly was losing the 4th round, but the first two rounds were even. Sharkey won the third round, but Schmeling wasn't hurt in the 4th. Max was a durable fighter, it's far from given that Sharkey would stop him. Max had also better stamina than Jack.

 

Weird post to die on. Sharkey beat Schmeling later, but not as badly as Steve Hamas and Gipsy Daniels beat Schmeling.

 

Sure, 200lb Max Schmeling isn't one of them.