[GIF] Reggie Johnson - James Toney knockdown

Toney fighting six weeks after he won the title. 23 year-old man wins world title and probably doesn't train too hard for a while. Seemed very distracted, especially in the early rounds. Lunging, chasing, headhunting - not the James Toney we know and love. Johnson was a slick dude, no doubt, but Toney had been in with plenty of shifty fighters, and southpaws.
Knockdown came on a sweeping overhand left. As Johnson went into motion, Toney stuck out a straight left of his own. I think The was trying to beat Johnson to the punch by jabbing when he saw Johnson begin to throw the left. In this case though, Johnson slid his right foot a good 18 inches to right and Toney missed completely (to the left of Johnson's head). That slide meant Johnson was really committing to the punch, the foot slide adding body weight and momentum to it. I'm a southpaw and my trainer showed me the same technique - it's a chance to hit a home run and also protect your head.

 

I thought that Johnson stopped being aggressive after he got hurt a few times in the middle rounds and let Toney back in the fight. Great defense though. Rarely has Toney looked so bad.
Slick defensive southpaws are always going to have a tough time getting fights and finding an audience.

 

Any given night with those early 90's guys you never knew what could happen. Deepest division in boxing at that time.

 

Mind boggling how slender James was in those days.

 

Same technique you see out of orthodox guys throwing overhand rights. Step out to the left to arc in the right. The thing that really sold this was the straight left to the body before it. It made James sag his hand.

 

Reggie Johnson was super slick. He'd be putting a schooling on Golovkin and Canelo today. Those early 90s middles were more impressive to me than a Calzaghe or a Ward in terms of 12 round elite smoothness. Guys like Nunn, Toney, Johnson, McCallum, Kalambay, Norris and JDJ. Calzaghe with his inside glove high output and Ward with his hold or move low output style are just not in that class in terms of smooth boxing.

 

I made this fight a draw when I last watched it. Reggie was one of those classic hard luck kind of fighters. He deserved better.

 

I think Jame never saw the punch, he was seriously hurt. But he rightfully won the fight at the end, in my opinion

 

Yeah he had to go through hell to make 160. He was a 200 pound football player in high school.

 

It really took a fighter as great as Castro to put a dent in Johnson's greatness. But the likes of Locomotora only come along once every few generations.

 

Didn't know that. Thanks

 

I'm thinking how much BBQ brisket ate to get as fat as he was after this fight. Lots and lots of brisket, plus the beans and mashed potatoes. Not to mention the fried okra.

 

Actually he was one if the best high school football players in Michigan at the time. I remember reading that he was highly recruited but didn't want any part of playing in college. Just completely fell in love with fighting.

 

This is why I like the Classic so much. Thanks a million for that cool stuff

 

He was planning to play football in college (he had a scholarship offer from Western Michigan University) but he suffered a nasty career-ending injury a few games into his senior year of high school. Broke his ankle and tore cartilage and ligaments in his knee while scrambling to avoid being sacked.