I'm reasonable. I just hate having to be. The only way to beat James Toney is the land a lead and end it there. Exchanging with Toney is almost a sure loss. Turpin was fast and savvy enough to pull it off IMO.
Good match up this. With his slipping, feinting style Toney could have come from the 50's. He could also really whack. On his night Toney would be a tough test for any Middleweight ever. Considering his fame, there is relatively little film of Randy Turpin but what we can see is what an efficient, strong Fighter he was. Power ? Oh yes, Turpin was a shattering puncher. When I was a teenaged amateur training at the Birmingham City gym, we had guys who would help out or just hang around who were ex Pro's from the 40's and 50's, classic gym rats. They had all seen the British stars of the post war years, Brian Curvis, Dave Charnley etc... The one name that was revered above all others by these guys was Randy Turpin. In the first Robinson fight, Turpin showed great discipline. Jab or pot shot then hold. Don't let Robinson let his shots go when he was in range. The same tactics were working in the re-match when Ray, badly cut, gambled and went for broke. This would be a don't blink fight with Turpin throwing single shots or maybe double jabs then trying to tie Toney up and Toney seeking to slip Randy's shots to let bunches of counters go and draw him into his kind of fight. One for the purists I guess. Maybe Turpin on a close decision but I wouldn't put my shirt on it.
