Toney's record at heavyweight was 11 wins 6 defeats 1 draw and 2 no contests His best wins; Evander Holyfield age 40 Fres Oquendo split decision Rydell Booker Dominick Guinn He had a draw and NC with Rahman and a NC with Ruiz. Yet for some reason there are people who think a sloppy overweight middleweight could beat George Foreman , Max Schmeling or any good heavyweight
Although I essentially agree with you, one thing to consider about the record itself is that *at heavyweight*, Toney faced very little fluff. Most of his opposition were ranked fighters.
The numbers are perhaps a bit misleading. He would have walked away with the Ruiz win, if he had covered his tracks a bit better. Ring Magazine had him beating Ramhan. Most people had him beating Peter the first time. I know Holyfield was shot, but who else did that to him? Yes you have to doubt his ability to beat the better heavyweights, but he was more than a cursory glance would suggest?
To my best knowledge, i know of no serious boxing historian who believe Toney was one of the true elites heavyweight or should be favored over the likes of foreman or schemling.
Trick with Big Toney is that it's hard to distinguish humor from serious analysis, precisely because Toney was so much of a "What if...?" kinda fighter. He could make crazy stuff happen. Or he could wildly disappoint you. Often in the same night.
Toney was a good heavyweight. Not great and he did cheat. That must be noted. He defeated Ruiz, and Rahman. Peter 1 could of gone either way. However Peter made a few adjustments and dominated the rematch. He really beat Toney up. Toney also did not deserve to beat Oquendo. That was a robbery. Anything after that he was totally washed up. I think it shows he was too small for a really good slugger, and too stationary for a good mover. However maulers like Ruiz, and average sluggers like Rahman, and Holyfield at that point in his career he posed a threat. He would of been destroyed by Wlad on the jab alone. As well as Vitali. And Peter in the rematch showed he could walk through him.
