James Toney, The Thread

I'd say he lose to more experienced guys - Moore would out-Toney him and Ezzard was too good. Him vs Tunney would be interesting, but Tunney was fast and big enough to beat him probably. Fitz would likely KO him, though in 12 rounds fight it could be even fight. I think that he'd beat Hopkins and might be too cute and tough for Hagler, but it would be unbelievable fight.

 

He's lose to Charles, Moore, Tunney, Monzon and Hagler.

Against Hopkins at 160 would be a 50-50 fight.

Fitzsimmons was a beast in terms of punching power but Toney at his best I'd favour to win a 12 rounder.

Burley ? I don't know. Burley has a remarkable record and beat better guys than Toney, but he also lost to lesser guys ... and I simply haven't seen enough of him to decide on that one.

 

He is 25th p4p on Boxrec. The only fighter on that list I would expect to win without question would be Archie Moore at light heavy. But Moore wouldn't be knocking out Toney even over 15 rounds. And he could easily get countered and clipped himself. Even the late 1950s Archie Moore. I think he is 50/50 Hagler and Monzon. He would win one and lose one between the two of them.
I see him as favourite against Fitzsimmons and 50/50 against Tunney.
Put it this way he didn't train hard and was binge eating junk food and was fighting as a fat 5 foot 9 middleweight and he knocked out Holyfield. And he was 235lbs and smashed Ruiz and drew Rahman.
He was physically gifted, had very strong technique and was a tough as nails. No one would want to face a motivated in shape Toney.

 

Christ did you tag enough people

Also the reason I favor him to beat Fitzsimmons is purely stylistically, I regard Fitz as the better fighter

 

He loses to Charles, Moore, Hagler and Monzon possibly to Tunney. He beats the others Burley is likely too small Toney fought in a generation of day before weigh in and he cut a lot of weight he'd be a good amount larger. Always though he'd beat Bernard. Fitz with the modern larger gloves and Toney mastering skills that were rarely seen in Fitz time I'd strongly favour James plus his chin is one of the best.

 

Toney is a classic example of talented but lazy. Put him in there in shape and motivated agaimst 95% of all fighters in history and he'd have at least a 30% chance, if not he'd at least be competitive.

 

His career was derailed by the 2 Griffin losses.Most people actually think he win those fights

 

Pretty much how I see it. I think he is as talented and tough as anyone that has ever stepped in the ring. The guy that has beat him the most in his career has been himself. Bill Miller basically said the same thing about him and he was very close to Ezzard Charles and a lot of other greats.

One other thing to remember about Toney was he had practically no amauter background and became a world champion pretty early on in his career. Prior to boxing he was an amazing high school football player in Michigan that was being scouted heavily.

He was a natural athlete that would have been the best at whatever sport he chose. Lucky for us, he chose the sport we love and he gave us some truly incredible moments.

 

I'd only favor Toney against Hopkins and maybe Burley

 

Shockingly he chose boxing due to an inability to play well with others. My favorite fighter to watch. The night he wrecked Barkley he might have been best the 168lber ever.