[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O279OFjtK9k&feature=related[/ame] An awe-inspiring display...but can someone explain to me how a younger Barkley was really badly wobbled once, and knocked down against old Duran...yet he took Toney's best stuff for 9 rounds? :think
Not the same thing. Toney was a natural Middleweight, who'd later campaign successfully at Heavyweight. He got less reaction out of a past prime Barkley, then a former Lightweight did against a prime Barkley. Explain. To make it even more bizarre, Toney was landing at will....with hard shots, hard right hands. It's just weird, that's all.
Those assholes on HBO and Don King Productions gave me two (three and it gets shut down) strikes on my youtube account.
It's not identical. ...But I don't see what's special about this when there are tons and tons of why hurt with this guy but not with this guy instances. I don't know what you're getting at, please tell me. Or I'll have Adamek wreck your car. I don't want to do that.
Damn your comment editing. Yeah, Duran's a former lightweight...but a champion at welter, light middle, and middle and a contender at super middle...It's not that weird. And Toney is about as natural a heavyweight as...insert other fat 5'9 natural 160-168 weight class fighter with a burger problem. I just don't see it as that weird.
barkley like doug dewitt had a chin that was very mysterious. i remember barkley getting knocked down by olajide who was not so much regarded as a power puncher as thomas hearns or wilfred scypion. dewitt too stood up to robbie simms and thomas hearns power but was knocked down by both sambu kalambay and jose quinones, less known for their power.
All it takes is 1 sweet punch you dont see coming to start serious degradation, a lot of scholars seem to have trouble realizing how irrational boxing can be.
Past prime Barkley vs. Toney is crowding and bunching up, throwing every now and then. Prime Barkley vs. Duran he wants to avenge the loss Duran inflicted on his buddy (forgot his name) and is going out to knock Duran out (since he is in prime condition, just killed tommy hearns), therefore he is open to take more shots, and eats shots that he doesn't see coming as a result. It's like when manchester united beat arsenal 6-1 because arsenal fancy their chances, come out and play to win and get caught, whereas someone **** house like blackburn can hold out for a goalless draw because they go there to draw and leave themselves far less open.
Maybe Barkley was drained at 160? Awaits the wrath of the Duran fanatics, we all know only Roberto is capable of being drained
I thought you meant Holyfield/Cooper , Holyfield/Foreman but then when I read the reply to your post I reminded (why) it could be an example too.
Barkley walked around at near 200 lbs -he was one of those heavy-handed, physically strong cats that was tough to handle in his natural form. I think that in terms of performance -skill, speed, etc., he peaked against Duran. After that, he was never exactly skillful again. Or as fast. But he was stronger -and noticably so. In fact, he quickly reverted to that head-down hooker that gave Hearns such a fit in the rematch. Physically, he was stronger at 168 than at 160. It was probably a better fit for his 6'1, powerful frame. So, he could absorb shots better. His mentality also changed between Duran and Toney. He honestly believed that he was going to outbang and outbox Duran with more ease than he did the bigger Hearns. He was unprepared to be hurt himself by the smallest man he ever fought. And in the first round no less. When he fought Toney, he had that "kill or be killed" mentality. He was fighting with a warrior's pride and for him it meant, "keep coming" more than it meant "win."
Sometimes you get hit right on the button that disconnects you from your senses. Toney who never seemed to be hurt even as a heavy, was probably hurt the worst in his entire career at 160 pounds against Reggie Johnson who wasnt the biggest puncher. The bottom line is all fighters can be hurt, if they're hit in the right spot.
Awe-inspiring. A prime Toney is something to behold. Toney, Hopkins and Jones. There are not many that makes for better watching than these three when they are on form. Gonna be a bit sad to see Toney get pounded while on his back in 10 days time.