Was James Toney off-form or just outclassed vs Jones?

The weight drained excuse is overblown. The fight was a domination. Toney in peak form would have only made it a little closer; the outcome would be the same.

 

There is no way in hell a non-drained Toney touches Roy that night.

 

Yeah, Toney would never ever beat Jones. He has about as much a chance of winning as Pavlik would against Hopkins.

 

I think Jimmy Toney is a greater fighter than that of Royale "With Cheese" Jones all the way........ Overall, yes, without a doubt........ In 2010 at 200+ pounds, Toney KILLS Jones......

MR.BILL

 

He was weight drained which probably made it even harder to try and track down Jones, but his flat footed shuffling fighting style would never have worked against Jones. He was and always would have been outclassed against that version of Jones.

 

JT would never beat the RJ from 1988-2003. Post 2003 RJ, there is a possibility Toney would get lucky and K.O Roy. However, JT might be a little too slow of foot to get in range.

 

How is Toney better?

By getting beaten in his prime by Dave Tiberi (crap decision aside) and Drake Thadzi??

Squeaking by Reggie Johnson and Merqui Sosa who Jones whipped with ease?

Or by getting his arse handed to him by Jones himself?

Jones was miles better than Toney and I don't think his disastorous 2004-10 output alters this in any way.

 

Embarrassing, JT never got outta the starting gate. Forget weight-drained or any other excuse. The bell rings, ya gotta perform.

On that ONE day, in THAT match, RJ made 'm look like he was standin' on the pier waitin' for the ships to come in.

 

James was not going to beat Roy.

And I'm a JT fan.

 

As many others have said, Toney was off-form and badly weight drained. Even at his best he wouldn´t have beaten Jones though. Perhaps won a few rounds but I doubt he may have beaten him albeit I give him a decent puncher´s chance.
Despite Toney beeing weightdrained it´s one of the best wins of the last 20 years.

 

According to some on here, Toney was more than 50lbs below his optimum weight, because bigger is always better. That is some serious weight drain.

 

This weight draining excuse is a crock imo.

Toney weighed in at 167 and a half for Prince Charles Williams when the Jones fight was a done deal yet we're supposed to believe he pigged out to 204 pounds and back down again all in the space of 3 and a half months,knowing he was facing Roy Jones Jnr who was already rated a p4p top 5 ???

I know James likes his food but if he couldn't control himself around the buffet with a mega fight like that a few months away then he more than deserved the whipping he got.

That said I'm dubious if he really did let himself go to the extent suggested considering
a)the fights significence
b)the small amount of time to gain and lose so much weight
c)the fact Toney was so active.The Jones fight was James's 5th fight for the year all between the weights of 168-178 pounds.

Toney always had weight issues yet always managed to win usually impressively but the first time he (officially) loses all of a sudden he's half starved and weakened.

I didn't buy it then or now.

Jones just had a style that gave him fits but Jones gave everyone he fought fits for over a decade so Toney isn't alone there.

 

Toney against Nunn looked in great shape. Against Jones he looked soft and out of shape.

I'm no fan of Jones but it's hard to imagine an in-shape Toney winning though I suspect he takes some of the rounds. Toney might land a killer shot that stuns Jones and allows him to finish it. I doubt it - but it is possible.

 

Roy picked him because he knew James could no longer maintain the 168 lbs limit , just like he picked so many others when he knew they were too small / too old / both for him. Taking steroids also helps to maintain advantage over smaller and older opponents .
Had he fought Toney in 1992 at 168 , it would have been a totally different story but Roy knew it .
Fact Roy fought for James' vacant title at 160.
Fact Toney was drained in the fight.
Fact Toney never came back to 168 after that fight.
Fact Toney did fight as a lightheavyweight in 1993 , a year before their fight.

But most posters here will always ignore these facts and claim Roy would have always beat James.
They also ignore Hopkins' bypassing the rules , and Ali's use of the loosened ropes in his fight with Foreman and many other facts as well.
Roy's career is full with examples of choosing hindered opponents and avoiding danger , James' career is the opposite .
Still James was never stopped and Roy was , 3 times.
And both took steroids just like almost everyone else in almost every sport.