Name just one fighter from the past decade more skilled than prime Toney

Totally agree.

 

From one Drexel graduate to a “Philly Fanatic,” we’ll have to agree disagree on this one. Hopkins’s psychological warfare would surely make Toney laugh. Plus I fail to see how he could effectively roughhouse one of the best inside fighters of all time. This fight goes one of two ways.

1. Toney picks an aggressive Nard apart for an easy decision.
2. Hopkins gets on his bicycle and lands a handful of effective punches each round, on his way to an unpopular decision in what is an all time boring fight.

Given the head games and in-fight banter, I believe we’d see the first scenario more often than not.

 

Cool deal! I always felt like the big 5 should be the big 6 and include Drexel among my college Philly teams...although I am a Temple guy at heart.

I don’t see it quite the same way....but that is cool. TBF I don’t really think it would be remembered as an exciting fight either way. Both guys had spoiling styles that limit opposition. It might be slightly more memorable than Hops vs RJJ I. But I do think the pre fight build up would be more exciting than the fight. But similar to The Hops RJJ encounter both guys would be tentative and respectful of the other (moreso in the ring then out of it), keeping risk to a minimum. I think Hops use of angles and space would limit Toney’s infighting advantage. Might be a great tactical type fight with very few fireworks

 

Drexel gets a lot more love than it did when I was there, 1996 to 2000. It sucks that Drexel is on the outside looking in on the Big 5. Even more so when you consider that Drexel is right in the heart of Philly, a block or so from UPenn. I keep hoping one of these years they’ll have a transcendent basketball player come through and really put them on the map.

I completely agree with your take on Toney and Hopkins nullifying each other’s offense in a tactically lackluster fight.

 

Nobody.

 

Did you miss the Malik Rose years? He was a solid college baller

 

He graduated in May 96, I got there in Sept. Real solid dude. I heard he graduated with a 3.7. He came back to campus a few times, whenever the Spurs played the 76ers. His brother came behind him but never achieved any real status. I don’t remember him staying past his 1st year. Malik’s brother drove an expensive SUV, likely a gift, and just seemed like he was riding on his brither’s coattails.

Still, Malik Rose is not the type of player I’m talking about. If a Lebron James type player isn’t born in Philly and determined to play for Drexel, they need to get lucky like Saint Josephs did and have 2 NBA caliber players (Jameer Nelson and Dalonte West) come through at the same time. Then they need a Brad Stevens or Mark Few type of coach who will build the program from the ground up and stay long term.

 

Didn’t Eddie Futch used to say that Riddick Bowe was the most talented heavyweight he ever trained and was better than Holmes, Frazier, Norton and Spinks? Yet how many would agree that was true?

 

Nobody, not even Floyd. Only thing with James was his discipline

 

When Manny and Roach said those things they no longer trained Toney nothing to gain unlike when Manny said Wlad was better the Lennox. The vast majority of guys you listed have a fraction of skill that Toney had. Watch Toney against Barkley those guys couldn't do that if there lives depended on it.

 

Talent and achievements don't always go hand in hand if you don't have work ethic. Bowe had huge talent to this day you cannot find a man his size that can fight like him on the inside. He had good handspeed, hooked of the jab better then any super heavy minus maybe Wlad. Bowe clearly had talent it was dedication he lacked.

Futch never said Bowe was better than Frazier and co he said he had the talent to be better, basically potential to be not that he was.

 

Mccallum would destroy Golovkin's middleweight competition . Toney was once ranked #1 pound for pound as well

 

Hopkins and RJJ maybe, but not Mike. I like Mike, but he has become one of the more overrated. He always found a way to win and he was so efficient and underrated power, but he did lose in a fight he never should have which derailed his talk of fighting the 4 kings.. Sumbu.

 

no.. Marquez was overrated a bit. I like Juan and think he is very good, but he either fought Manny or older guys, or fought mediocre guys at weights until he fought Manny again.

 

If this is true, and I am not saying it is....if a past prime, naturally smaller McCallum can fight prime Toney to a draw and lose a close MD with some/many people feeling he won 1 and some that he won both (not saying he did)...how did McCallum past prime score a draw....unless perhaps he was more skilled