James Toney: Merqui Sosa Doug DeWitt Tim Littles Iran Barkley Michael Nunn Mike McCallum Charles Williams Reggie Johnson Tony Thornton Roy Jones: Jorge Vaca Tony Thornton Bernard Hopkins Vinny Pazienza Thomas Tate James Toney Thulani Malinga Jorge Castro Too close to call for me, but i might give the slight edge to Toney on this one. James Toney really does have an unappreciated resume.
toney. huge jones fan here but its toney. despite being down and down big on the cards, toney stopping an undefeated nunn is a huge feather in his cap.
He fought a better Reggie Johnson and Mike McCallum x2 but he struggled with them... Jones didn't... but they were past prime. What else can be said? Oh yeah! When they fought (Toney was the favorite) Jones absolutley dominated him.
Yes, I was going to say that when they fought Jones dominated him, but that doesnt really address the question. Theres just better names on his list, and Jones didnt fight Johnson and Mcallum at supermiddle, he fought them at LH.
yep if i could change my vote i'd definitely vote for Toney, it's still close but Toney's is for sure stronger. Reggie Johnson seals the deal on this one for me, very good fighter and Toney fought him at his best weight Middleweight. Johnson was still a really good fighter when Jones fought him even at light heavy. But Toney fought the better Reggie. Johnson went up against Tarver, Castro x2, Jackson and Toney and all fights were all very close. Jones was the only one to wipe him out.
Toney had the chin, longevity and ability to consistently compete on even terms with top heavyweights. Roy needed to get out after Ruiz, and especially following Tarver I. Getting stopped three times the way he did, then losing the rematch to Hopkins, four years his senior, cost him dearly. However, RJJ's dominant head to head win over Lights Out to open his title run at 168 clearly puts him over James at SMW. Roy also destroyed a red hot Paz, coming off a world of experience in having just gone 12 rounds for the second time with Duran. Jones didn't beat him on cuts like the other two times Vinnie was stopped, he pounded Paz into the ground.
Its a confusing cycle. Toneys resume there is better making Tony a big name to have on a resume and Jones beat him .
They both have awesome single wins around these weights, Toney over Nunn (closer than most people said IMO) and Jones over Toney (a whitewash) I guess it depends on how good you think Toney and Nunn were going into those fights. Toney has the more stacked resume, but Jones looked consistently mind blowing at these weights (and further on)
When you look at Nunn, he had the usual kinda' fights someone being groomed will have. A few fighters that were previously known for their brilliance at the lower weights, one quite risky fight (the anomoly) and then, Toney, who had enough to beat him. Nowadays, people are quick to yell 'exposed', but I think Nunn showed how good he was prior to the Toney fight. Not much of significance afterwards, some good stuff, but I still think he appears (aesthetically, and taking into account the circumstances he beat the opponents he beat, including Kalambay, which was a complete fluke but happened nonetheless) quality; I tend to think that is the best single win out of Jones/Toneys 160/168lb tenures. Then again, Jones' trouncing of Toney must be even better because of this. Hard to gauge, pretty good question when you look at it, I jumped in and started to say 'Jones, obviously' but it's not that clear cut is it? Jones is the greater fighter IMO. His ability was out of this World even compared to a throwback like Toney.
