Rate Toney's win over Iran Barkley

Very Good.

Barkley was apparently the favourite going in, that counts for something. I think the Blade is better than he is often given credit for, he is underrated because he lost some high-profile fights against top comp.

However, the reason this win is 'Very Good' rather than just 'Good' is the insane quality of Toney's performance. It's not Toney's best win, but it is his most complete performance. His lightning fast hooks and uppercuts on the inside when Barkley is trying to throw are just sublime. A stunning, stunning performance of the very highest quality.

 

Benn destroyed Barkley and Barkley was damaged goods.... how he could have been favourite against Toneyat that stage is beyond me... He was Taylor made for Toney...The win was just good not very good or great

 

Going into the figth Iran was the Fav to win. He was on a hot streak and still people felt that Tony was a fluke. What many have learned over the years is that Tony Eats fighters like Iran alive. They fall into his trap. Tony would roll and faint, counter punch them to death. Iran, did run into many of Tony punches as he charged in. Skills kill and that is what happen in this fight. What made this so high, was how easy he beat the crap out of Iran.

 

Barkley didnt had much left going into that fight not only cause of the many wars he had gone through in his career but mostly cause of his struggle to make 168,his last two fights before fighting Toney were at 175 and six months after he got beat by James he was fighting as a heavyweight,when you watch his fight with Toney and see that Barkley is already breathing hard two minutes into the first round it becomes obvious that he wasnt in shape to compete with Toney and that the only thing he brought to the ring that day was his thougness.

Great performance by Toney against a guy that in that night wasnt much more than a punching bag.

 

I was surprised to hear Larry Merchant say that nobody at ringside thought that Toney would win.