Prime James Tony vs prime Andre Ward

I would say Toney by KO but Toney by a comfortable points decision seems more likely as long as the judges were unbiased.

 

As long as ref cracked down on Ward's dirty tactics i'd have Toney by UD or late ko. Toney's got just too much variety coupled with power for Ward.

 

Wards primary game is getting on the inside and muscling guys,
and landing shots on the inside. That's one of the stupidest tactics
to try vs. James Toney. James Toney is literally (by skillset) a top 10 inside fighter
of all time.

Toney is all wrong for Ward.
All the people that ever gave James trouble did it with a high work
rate or did it on the outside by moving and exploiting James'
reluctance to use his feet.

James tko 11.

 

Couldn't say it better

 

James Toney via an easy UD.

Ward is super talented but he is a level below Toney

 

I would lean towards a close decision victory for Ward. But wouldn't call this one with any certainty

 

I favour Toney. Ward isn't going to win on the inside here like he usually does. He likes to clinch, maul and work but Toney is better on the inside and that philly shell style shoulder roll and stance makes him very hard to clinch as Toney is usually so side on and has his shoulder creating a barrier to the clinch.

If Ward is to compete he'll need to fight more like he did with Kovalev, use movement, create angles and out box Toney which is no easy task. Toney is far better defensively than any fighter Ward has ever fought, he's going to be missing a lot more than he's used to and while I think Ward will be competitive as he himself is very good defensively, I think Toney's defense and counter punching will be too much.

Toney wins a competitive decision.

 

I agree with this a lot. The reason I shy away from Toney in this is due to he times he would slow down in fights, such as against McCallum. There are times he had his way and others??? Not sure if it was overconfidence, fatigue, laziness or disinterest? I think talent and ability wise he is quite able to hold his own and even beat Ward. Just not sure that he would bring it all 12? In a closely contested fight like I assume this would be he would need to. So I will stick with the narrow decision for the underdog (and rightfully so) Ward

 

James always lost when it counted, and he lost to the fast guys. I think he loses a 12 round decision.

 

I'm a massive fan of Ward but you have to call a spade a spade.
Toney wide UD, although it will be competitive yet wide.

 

I guess it didn't count when he fought Nunn, McCallum, Barkley, Jirov, Holyfield etc.

 

Toney has seen the vast array of dirty tricks Ward is infamous for and is both too ring savvy and tough to be affected to any meaningful degree. If James found himself in a close points situation late on and felt he had to stop him to ensure victory then I could see him working an opening and getting it done. On the other hand Ward is also tough and skilled in his own right so maybe the smart money would be on the fight going the distance.

Toney UD

 

While I agree about Toney sometimes slowing down in fights I disregarded that aspect of Toney because overall he has a higher work rate and intensity compared to Ward. Ward doesn't throw a lot of punches usually, even at his busiest like when he fought Froch his work rate is dwarfed by what Toney was capable of, I mean we'll never see Ward in the 400 club unless he lands 80% of his punches which even for him is impossible.

 

Ward by DQ as Toney won't put up with the ward dirty tricks ...in a proper reffed fight Toney all the way...Class act!