Is James "Lights Out" Toney the most skillful fighter over 160 lbs ever?

Man what do you do for a living? You're always here.

 

That's a bold statement. For a technical stand point he was very, very good and one of the best inside, defensive fighters of all time, but he wasn't perfect. He wasn't a great mover, not flat footed but movers gave him problems and he relied a little too much on his right hand counter, when a fighter took that away like in the Griffin rematch he looked less effective.

 

Certainly not the most skilled but I am would put him in a top twenty. When u look at his career and some of the guys he beat u can't knock him for that but then u look at the losses. He should nt have lost to a few guys early on or struggled like he did

 

For the last 20-25 years, he might be.

 

I have him in my top 5 of the last 30 years.

 

Tough to say, Monzon, Hagler, Hopkins, are all candidates so I would place Toney in my Top 3 which is saying a whole lot about his skill set.

 

Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, Jones Jr, Ali, Joe Louis. Semi-mythical: Greb, Langford.

 

Probably the most skilled fighter any weight in the last 20-25 years.