H2H: Peak James Toney v Peak Joe Calzaghe

I knew I could drag you out the woodwork with a RJJ post

 

But you didn’t.

 

Cannot see Toney winning 2 or 3 rounds in this. His feet are not fast enough & the simple volume of punches he will face are about 250% more than he will throw. Won't win a decision and don't see it as a close bout. Much closer to a mismatch in my eyes.

 

Ha!

You can’t be serious here?

Close to a mismatch?

In favour of Calzaghe?

Ridiculous.


Did you follow Joe’s career?


He ate right hands like candy.

Never fought a great fighter in his career who was in his prime.

Never saw a guy as skilled as James in his entire career.

Had a scrappy shootout with a B level Mitchell who dropped him.

Looked awful against David Starie and Rick Thornberry, who were British/European level fighters.

Could barely beat Robin Reid, either side of Reid’s losses to Thulani Malinga and Silvio Branco.

Got dropped by a non world level fighter in Kabary Salem.

Had a tough night against Sakio Bika.

Could barely beat a 43 year old Hopkins, who dropped him.

Had a competitive fight against Kessler.

Was dropped by the ghost of Roy Jones.


You’d have been lucky if Joe had signed a contract to have fought him, never mind him having had an easy win over him.

Along with Floyd and Mike Tyson, Joe must be one of the most overrated fighters of all time.

 

Toney wins a UD. He is more skilled than Joe. Due to his workmate, Joe can keep it competitive but Toney's precise counters carry the day.

 

This thread has been done to death so I'll do a quick run down.

I've always said Toney wins by decision his record against elite southpaws is there for everyone to see Nunn, Johnson, Jirov, etc.

Toney dealt with the awkward angles and speed of a prime Nunn.

Toney dealt with the workrate and physicality of Jirov who threw 1000 punches.

So I don't think Calzaghe will surprise Toney with anything he hasn't seen before.

Calzaghe was vulnerable to right hand counters Reid constantly counter punched him with right hands knocking his head back like a pinball machine.

An old Hopkins was able to counter punch Calzaghe consistently with right hands and floor him. He just didn't have the energy levels at his age over 12 rounds vs Calzaghe.

Toney could have some stinkers his form wasn't always consistent. But in his prime at Super Middleweight I'm talking the version of Toney who put on a masterclass vs Barkley.

I'd pick that Toney via decision.

 

I think it looks like the Hopkins fight, except maybe Toney has more success. Calzaghe's engine and workrate versus Toney's surgical counters. It would be close I think, probably leaning to Calzaghe's workrate edging out more rounds as he looks bad eating lots of right hand counters.

 

Toney is great to watch, but he had some struggöls at every stage.in his career, yes. I think he was unlucky with some decision losses at LHW and HW, but the reverse is true for his time at MW.

This is very hard to call, but would almost certainly be a great fight. Joe's speed and workrate against Toney's skill. Can't say which would prevail.

 

Calzaghe points

 

This is a tough one and maybe down the line I will change my mind.

Toney beats Calzaghe in a 8-4 at best or 7-5 fight. One judge may make it a draw depending on what they are scoring.

Calzaghe is criminally underrated but prime Toney was a special unique fighter.

 

Is he criminally underrated?

 

Ahh maybe I could have worded it better but I do believe he is not always appreciated. He was quite a rare fighter. I think there will always be question marks about his career but fundamentally at his best he was excellent.