Conteh. His career was shorter than Toney's but from time he won belt through first few deenses he was terrific fighter, able to go at great pace for 15 rounds, hit hard, took punch, athletic. Tough too. Toney would not be given chance to play games, or steal time stalling. Two things on Conteh outside ring: One , he apologized to fans after episode where he ran naked through hotel with champagne bottle drunk as all hell, celebrating a victory. Today I think it would be no big feal, probably make him more popular. Second, he was in superstars competition, the contest between athletes from all sports, the British version, and i think he won. Shame him and Galindez never fought each other.
The best fighter James Toney ever beat "around" 175 was an old Junior Middleweight (McCallum). A prime Conteh would beat the **** out of James Toney.
Jimmy Toney is the greater all around fighter...... People diss Toney at 175 cuz he never did **** there that was impressive..... So be it...... Many still think he was shafted 2X against Montell Griffin back in the 1990s..... If Toney trained properly and was focused, he'd school a guy like John Conteh over 12 or 15 rds.......... Conteh was good, but Toney is great...... MR.BILL
That's one of the biggest IFs in the history of boxing. Do you have any tapes of a prime Conteh, Bill? On his best day, Toney doesn't school Conteh.
James Toney was a Middleweight/Super Middleweight. He ate himself out of those divisions and didn't do much at all at Light Heavy, so I'm not sure which big fights you're referring to. Toney had a rebirth of sorts at Heavyweight, kind of benefitting from the "PacMan" syndrome, where he was able to outslick select larger men. I do give him credit for that. Of course he throws that all in to question by his PED use. These head to heads are usually prime vs prime. So what's Toney's best effort at LH? Disputed outcomes vs Montell Griffin? That's a couple rungs down from a prime Conteh.
Toney is not economizing his way to a decision over Conteh. At his best, John would win by a clear score.
Toney at his best would give Conteh a good fight, and would win rounds, but in the end I see Conteh taking a clear UD.
Well he didn't have the big fights at 175lbs to raise his game for, he was also somehow demoralised after the Jones fight. Your right Conteh is better than Griffin but its not like Toney hasn't faced men of Conteh's class, just not at LHW. Also Toney fought at 175 a few times in 93 and 94 before the Jones loss, so you could use that version if you want Toney at his best Toney was 200lbs in school so I think he always may have outgrown those smaller divisions anyway. Obviously he loved his dinner though