Between Toney and Hopkins who do you give the edge in the following categories: Jab Right hand Left hook Body punching 1 punch power Combinations Counter punching Ring generalship Footwork Defence Infighting Hand speed Chin/ Durability Athletic ability Heart/ Mental strength Quality of opponents faced
jab: hard to say, Toney had a decent one it was slick and came up from below , but Hopkins had a fight contolling jab so i gotta give him the edge. Right hand: This is a close one, Hopkins has a good right hand, it was sharp fast and he could lead with it, but Toney's is faster and had more power, so edge to James here. Left hook: I think Toney has it here. Body punching: Again I gotta give James the edge here, there are many examples of Toney's bodywork, not to say Hopkins couldnt work the body just not like Toney. 1 punch power: Another for Toney, he just has more thump in his gloves. Combos: Actually i think this one might be a draw. Counter punching: Yet another for Toney, but c'mon countering is Toney's forte. Ring generalship: This is one attribute where Hopkin's shuts Toney out, just way, way better than Toney at every aspect here. Footwork: Another for Hopkins Defense: While Toney's defense is flashier, I think Hopkins might just be a bit more effective. Infighting: Sorry all you Hopkins fans but you gotta admit he is not an infighter, Toney on the other hand was most confident inside trading shots. Hand speed: This is very tough, but i think Toney might just be a bit faster than Hopkins. Chin/Durability: Gotta give another to Toney, They both have fantastic jaws, but Toneys may be a little more solid. Atheletic ability: Hopkin's again by a long shot. Heart/ Mental strength: I think Toney has plenty of both, but Hopkins has kept himself in better shape and better prepared mentally and physically. Quality of opponents faced: Again a landslide for Hopkins, he fought and beat better oppenents throughout his career for sure.
Jab: Even Right hand: Even (different ways of utilising it though, Hopkins better with a lead right, Toney as a counter shot) Left hook: Toney Body punching: Even (slightly in favour of Toney) 1 punch power: Toney Combinations: Toney Counter punching: Even Ring generalship: Hopkins Footwork: Hopkins Defence: Even Infighting: Even Hand speed: Hopkins Chin/ Durability: Toney Athletic ability: Hopkins Heart/ Mental strength: Even Quality of opponents faced: Even
Oddly enough I give Toney the edge in most of these departments (something like 10-5-1 for him), and yet I might narrowly favour Hopkins in a head to head prime for prime.
Hopkins' better footwork would be the difference IMO. Toney having the edge in most of those attributes on paper is kind of fools gold, because Hopkins is not to far behind him in any of them for it to be so significant.
I'd give handspeed to Toney. Hopkins has had his moments but Toney against the right opponent could look pretty quick: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLqQrGDQhw[/ame] 3:35 A lot of the categories are rather even.
Yep, no problem with that. Even though it's horses for courses with JT. I tend to see both as being quick in the mind instead of the body. Hopkins just lands punches that a very deceptively fast and sneaky. Look at his right hand for example, doesn't look that fast but extremely fast from A to B and always on target. I guess it's more timing but his speed is somewhat overlooked aswell. As i say though it's more a speed of his mind and reading then of the physical Meldrick Taylor type of fast. If that made sense, lol.
Neither are exactly what I'd call fast, despite the video clip I posted above. The speed of Toney's combinations probably edges it for me, although Hopkins put them together well against Glen Johnson. It's mostly technical skill over athleticism with these two. Very relaxed fighters who could go 20+ rounds with relative ease. Toney was arguably more naturally talented than Hopkins, while Hopkins is a bit more clever and cagey, atleast in my estimation. Toney with Hopkins's dedication would have been an even greater force, instead he basically spent 8 years in obscurity during 1995-2003 because of a lack of motivation.
Jab: Hopkins Right hand: Overall, Toney, but Hopkins has a better lead right. Left hook: Toney Body punching: Toney 1 punch power: Toney Combinations: Hopkins Counter punching: Toney Ring generalship: Hopkins Footwork: Hopkins Defence: Toney Infighting: Toney Hand speed: Hopkins Chin/ Durability: Even Athletic ability: Hopkins Heart/ Mental strength: Hopkins Quality of opponents faced: Hopkins
Jab : p4p IDK , h2h Bernard is taller and never fought bigger men anywhere near where Toney did , so Toney's jab is as relevant as Tua's jab - could have been effective if he was d taller man . And Jones' jab didn't sparkle either vs Griffin although he did use it a lot then but 2 no avail . Right hand : Toney Left hook : Toney Body punching : Toney 1 punch power : Toney , but if both are compared @ d same weight then IDK , probably still Toney but not by much Combinations : Toney Counter punching : Toney Ring generalship : IDK Footwork : IDK Defence : Toney Infighting : Toney Hand speed : Toney Chin/ Durability : Toney Athletic ability : Toney Heart/ Mental strength : Toney , he doesn't fake low blows , doesn't cheat , never quit , held only vs Tony Thornton and not much Quality of opponents faced : Toney
Jab: Hopkins Right hand: Hopkins Left hook: Toney Body punching: Even 1 punch power: Toney Combinations: Toney Counter punching: Even Ring generalship: Hopkins Footwork: Hopkins Defence: Hopkins Infighting: Toney Hand speed: Hopkins Chin/ Durability: Toney Athletic ability: Hopkins Heart/ Mental strength: Hopkins Quality of opponents faced: Even
