Toney vs. Hopkins at 168 and 175

A thought provoking one. Anyone looking for plenty of thrills and spills should n't turn up for this one. But the skills on display would be sublime.

Both men could box and defend really well and were as durable as a Duracell battery so it would definitely go to the cards. Toney could be slightly busier than Hopkins so this could supply the tiebreaker. Not too sure though.

Toney SD Hopkins.

 

Both guys are great on the inside but if Hopkins would effectively use his footwork he would outpoint Toney

 

Bernard can't beat people with faster and or "better" foot placement and positioning than him. Toney's feet (despite the fact that people called him lazy in his younger days) and his balance were better than Bernard's. This on top of the fact that he was also a bit physically stronger, a better combination puncher, had an equal to if not superior chin spells a Toney win for me.

 

Toney by close decision.He is the busier fighter

 

I favor Toney by close decision, but never count out James Toney having a fat camp and coming in weight drained to his detriment and losing a decision to the much more spartan Hopkins

Also, can you imagine Toney with Hopkins weight/training dedication?

 

Hopkins beats him at both weights

 

Toney wns split decision
Both fights.

 

I think Hopkins movement would really trouble James.

 

I always liked James Toney's quote on Bernard
"He's not fighting old school, He's fighting old scared".

Too bad They didn't fight, would've been very fun clash of personalities as well as styles. Personally, I think Hopkins's superior tactical acumen would allow him to trick Toney, slow the pace down, make it ugly on the inside, without many clean exchanges - and outscore him.
Toney was more talented of the two, maybe more skillful even - but I think Hopkins was smarter.

 

you think Hopkins beats Toney on the inside????

 

I don't think He'd like to engage in clean inside fight against Toney. The way I see it, He'd probably box more - but here and there, while on the inside, He'd make it more dirty which would limit Toney's effectiveness. Hold, step around his lead shoulder, trying to sneak in scoring punches and probably force referee to call it a break.
I think it's a match-up where Hopkins likely dictates the pace and range at which fight is fought.

 

Toney would hurt him bad