Dream matchup right here! I think James beats him, but the amount of skill in one ring would be unbelievable.
After pondering I think I like Toney to win a close, disputed decision. Kalambay comes out boxing well and builds up a slight lead over the first half, then Toney gets more aggressive and while he doesn't land a lot of clean shots, generally outworks Kalambay over the second half to escape with the nod.
Yeah, I can see Kalambay winning this. His movement and skills are sublime, and precisely what you need to beat Toney. However, I think his chin is a bit too suspect here. If Toney catches him with a Nunn KO-esque punch, then he ain't getting up. I tend to think he'd know he's losing after 7/8 and go to the body before setting up a KO. Being set over 15 would help too, although I don't see why it should be. Kalambay out-boxing Toney and surviving late wouldn't be out of the question either. I've always seen Sumbu as what Toney would be if he was primarily an outside fighter, and then put on wheels. Awesome match up.
An older and less mobile McCallum would give Toney two good fights (and winning the second imo), and I can see Kalambay doing a bit better even.
Toney isn't throwing an awkward, long, lead southpaw left cross like that in the first 90 seconds to catch anyone cold, let alone landing one. He's a shorter-armed, correct punching orthodox stanced slow paced counter puncher.
This would have been one of the best technical chess matches. Kalambay's movements and jab would have given Toney real issues, who usually sat and waited to counter. Kalambay would not give Toney a lot of chances to counter punch, forcing Toney to be the aggressor. Toney's better handspeed and power could make this fight closer and perhaps even hurting Kalambay in the process. Ultimately I see Kalambay beating Toney in a close technical fight.
Good technical breakdown,It comes indeed down to what the judges like in this close fight,I favored Toney by SD because judges often like aggression.But who knows
I didn't mean a punch exactly like that. I mean in terms of power, Kalambay isn't taking one like that.
Kalambay usually had a good sturdy chin though and the only time he was ever stopped was his first round KO to Nunn, who wasn't even a known puncher to begin with and it was basically a huge anomaly. That's so crazy because that's how I always felt about Kalambay as well whenever I compare him to Toney. Kalambay was like a more fleet footed, pure boxing version of Toney. Both very beautiful technicians to watch.
Flo beat me to it. Kalambay usually had a good, reliable chin and the Nunn punch was a freakish outlier really. It was a shot that he was slightly vulnerable to against southpaws and it caught him cold. Toney struggled more with movement to his right imo and by world class standards wasnt the hardest to force a reset on with movement in that direction at the right angle. Kalambay was highly adept at gliding that way with quick, smooth shifts while jabbing on the move with multi-purposed variety to throw slower footed fighters off balance and keep them from setting themselves. All the while being ready to pounce from a good position on any over extending with a quick slip/counter from either hand. Its just hard for me to see Toney building any momentum or establishing any consistent offensive rhythm against that type of slickster who can match him technically while having superior speed and intelligence of foot. Trying to reverse the roles and make Kalambay come after him would also yield little joy imo, given Kalambays somewhat underused ability to cut off the ring behind his jab when the mood took him, as spells in the first Graham fight showed. Toneys own great defensive reflexes and schooling from the waste up coupled with his timing, speed of hand and technique would probably allow him to have monents and prevent Sumbu from embarassing him, but Id expect it to be a long, frustrating night for him on route to a clear points loss, albeit in a belter for the purists.
this would be a hell of a scrap... of course Kalambay would come into the fight in great shape... I think Toney would underestimate Kalambay & not train properly... and lose a UD.
