James Toney vs Evander Holyfield Thoughts

Let me put it this way, which win was more impressive:

Hagler's unconvincing UD over Duran, or:
Hearn's devastating knockout win over Duran.

It has nothing to do with lowballing Toney's win. Toney's win was excellent. But how impressive would it have been had it read "Toney KO1 Nunn" ?

Spinks had cleaned up the entire lightheavyweight division, (a very strong division), was undefeated and had beaten the heavyweight champion of the world who had 22 succesful title defences. Yes, that grands you p4p credentials.

 

Let me put it this way, which win was more impressive:

Duran's close, hard-fought decision over Ray Leonard
or
Kendall Holt's controversial and sensational 1st round KO of Ricardo Torres?

The former of course, because the quality of the opponent and the overall quality of the performance are more important than merely a case of who won earlier or more easily.

Michael Nunn at middleweight was a better fighter than Michael Spinks was at heavyweight, not only that but Michael Nunn seriously 'brung it' on the night whereas Spinks was paralysed by fear, and also Nunn held the physical advantages over Toney while Tyson held the physical advantages over Spinks.

He was not a p4p calibre fighter at heavyweight. He was still a good fighter of course, but he was not close to being the same wonderful fighter he was at light-heavy.

 

atsch Watch the ****ing fight. You clearly haven't seen it in years and are commenting on something you don't have a clue about.

 

Regardless of what happened, and I did watch a few of the late rounds on the tube yesterday which I scored close (could have gone either way), but not because of anything other than Nunn tiring and Toney being stronger, I still rank the win below Tyson's total destruction of Spinks. Excuses can be made for both sides, but the fact is Toney was still pretty far behind in the fight and was getting outboxed fairly easily, the same thing that was expected before the Tyson Spinks fight. Many thought Spinks would be able to hang with Tyson with his boxing skills for more than 91 seconds.

 

This part in red is complete bull****. Toney was not getting outboxed fairly easily, he had turned the fight around and was winning rounds very clearly before he got the brilliant stoppage win. Spinks was "expected" to outbox Tyson fairly easily? Not by anyone with a brain cell he wasn't. There isn't a 200lbs man in all of boxing history who could "fairly easily" outbox prime Mike Tyson.

 

I actually was impressed at how well the 217 pound Toney was taking Holy's best leather with ease during the initial first two rds of heated action...... Holy did go for broke in a few early scenario's...... However, Toney was just too ready to roll and kick some ass in 2003...... 217 was the key for Toney........ He looked really good there...... Don Turner did the right thing by saving Holy in the 9th stanza....... Holy is delusional to think he could've come back to win...... Holy's ass was kicked......

MR.BILL

 

For the majority of the fight he was. Nunn was tiring Toney was still strong.

Not what I said, although my post was not clear. It wasnt expected that Spinks would be destroyed in 91 seconds, and that his boxing skills would keep him in the fight.

 

Never beat a top opponent that decisively? How about Iran Barkley, Michael Nunn, John Ruiz, Jirov...the list is long. If you want to say that Holyfield was washed, that's fine, but the Tyson Holyfield beat was a shell of his prime self as well. Toney in shape and focused would be a tough match for anyone, from middle to heavy. He only suffered a few flash knockdowns in his career and was never in trouble in any of his ninety-odd fights. An all-timer for sure.

 

I can agree with that.I thought Holy looked better than against Byrd, looked sharper and had the should imjury resolved. Toney was just too good.

 

My thoughts are Toney beat the crap out of Holy. Gave him the boxing lesson of his life. Please dont tell me about the shoulder because it looked fine to me. Don Turner pulled him to save him from getting KTFO.
Both great great fighters but Holy gets a bit overrated at times. Hes always praised about his heart and warrior spirit rightfully so but when the same words are used to describe Frazier rightfully so they get downplayed severely. Toney kicked his @@@ fair and square.

 

Two formerly great fighters past their primes but one had more left. Toney was the more skilled of the two anyway but it's a fight that never could have taken place when they were at their respective bests so not sure how much it means.

 

Holyfield was way past it

In his prime he would have beaten Toney and Ruiz comfortably.

 

I think when they made this fight the Holyfield people thought Evander would be too big and strong and KO Toney. Poor judgement , Evander at this stage was a ripe melon after the numerous wars. I thought he looked about done after the fourth round. This fight takes place 6 or 7 years earlier or at 190 and Holy wears him out with his will to win.