ATG: Who Ranks Higher, Oscar De La Hoya or James Toney?

James Toney by far. Way more overall skills. Unfortunately lack of discipline kept him from really being super great. Someone said Roy Jones humiliated Toney, but Toney was really struggling to make weight for that fight. Not that Jones wouldnt have beaten anyway at his best, but Jones was untouchable at that time.

 

He also lost to Tiberi, struggled with McCallum, was getting shooled by Michael Nunn before getting the late round KO.

 

Both McCallum and Nunn were better than anyone that De La Hoya ever beat IMO, (accounting for the form of Pernell and JCC in their fights of course.)

Oscar was more consistent, but I think the quality of Toney's best wins and performances was higher.

And yeah, he got crushed by Jones, but there is no great shame in that.

 

Toney did have some crazy lapses vs guys he should have crushed but not many considering how many fights he had all in & both McCallum & Nunn would take a **** on Oscar.

Toney`s biggest problem was his discipline, Oscar wins hands down in this department but when both were at their best, Toney was the better fighter.

 

DLH has 10 world titles at 6 weights.

Toney has 3 world titles at 3 weights.

Unless I'm overlooking something in the resume department, the answer is De La Hoya.

(Toney may have the best single wins, but does his resume have the depth of DLH's?)

 

James Toney's not 1 but 2 steroid convictions cast a shadow over his entire career IMO. I pick Oscar by a wide margin.

 

I agree, Toney has the better single fights (even better than RJ and Hopkins IMO).However, DH has certainly fought more consistently at the elite level.

Toney should also get credit for his heavyweight run while starting out as a middleweight but of course the Ruiz fiasco hurts his legacy. DH and Toney always tried to face the best available opposition.