Does toney actually have the ability to bend his neck ?!? bet hes like a dog he cant look up ! Even when he gets hit his head doesn't really snap back his body just bends i wish i had his ability to take a punch
Art in motion, that's what James Toney was. Masterful boxing skills, great defense, offense, and counterpunching. His fights with Mike McCallum is one of the best display that fits the term 'sweet science'. It's just a shame how he turned into such a fat slob, devoid of hard training and keeping his body in shape. Very talented boxer who is already a Hall of Famer, but sadly, could have been much better had he stayed in shape. I would have loved to see Toney against B-Hop.
He's a moving poem! Wow that sounds awful, just watch these vids his style is great visually. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2okWhhqIDk[/ame] Arguably his best performance against Barkley [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEA2SRCPpkU[/ame]
uhm, he was as good as he could have been. An overachiever thanks to his gift decision wins as 160lb champion. Had he kept his weight down, he could have won a title at 168lbs again, after the soul-taking Jones shut out. Would've never got a look in at 175lbs. Resorted to roiding when he moved up to an incredbily weak heavyweight divison. Routinely spouted the dumbest trash talk for almost 20 years & counting. Has by far the dumbest, worst nuthuggers for a fanbase.
Considering no one really talks about James Toney here, I'd say you are wrong. Oh, you're also wrong about the worst fans, that goes to Calzaghe. Any thread on Joe C should be proof if you aren't an idiot.
Are you serious? Toney has been the focus of more pointless discussions on esb than anyone. The Mayweather-Pacquaio & Klitschko-Haye stuff is at least relevant. It's only since Toney's mma disgrace that even his most devoted cheerleaders have finally begun to give up on him & admit he needs to retire. I'd say you have no idea what you're talking about and should never quote me again you ****ing twat.
I'd have liked to have seen Vitali give him the stay busy fight in June, just to see his loud ass KO'd into oblivion.
He could box, he could slug, inside, outside, he knew what it took to win. Granite chin, iron will, and he 'loved' to fight... Toney was tough as nails, he brutalized guys from MW to CW...His power diminished as he moved up though, and he may have moved up somewhat from some wayward years in training... Wish he retired after Jirov though...At HW, he had little left except his amazing ring IQ and his granite chin...
Toney had all the talent in the world, Definitely a HOFer, not as good as Jones or Hopkins but he was very good and probably could have made the race much tighter with those two. Now if he wasn't such a fat unfocused slob, well he might have pulled off a Hopkins of sorts and stayed at 168 and built a devastating title reign. He had the skills to do that.e
An interesting fighter, and quite polarising. People love him or hate him. I liked it best when he was inside, avoiding punches and countering the **** out of people. I disliked it the most when he was talking, and found him about as charismatic as a turd. He had his classic against Jirov, but he was totally humiliated by Jones, and beaten by Thadzi. Seriously, Thadzi. A throwback fighter, sure. But also over-rated. How much of that was due to the mental weakness and lack of discipline that has defined the last part of his career is anyone's guess.
The Holyfield fight was one of the most impressive victories I've ever seen. As someone else pointed out, this was his FIRST fight as a heavyweight - against a legend- and after a couple of challenging rounds, he methodically chops Holyfield down, made an ass of him IMO, and should've retired him. And as James is only a few years younger than Holyfield, and has had way more fights, please don't play the "Holyfield Was Shot" card....they were both old, and Toney totally dismantled him.
Is it safe to say that he would of been the top dog in either the mw or smw division if he was around in todays era?