why hasnt "lights out no doubt" gone up against one of the Klits?

very unfair post towards Toney, the fight against McCline was sure to happen when James became seriously injured (he was injured for nearly a year), so Toney hardly avoided him. The fight didn't came off in the end because McCline got a title-shot against Chris Byrd.

He didn't pull out of the Tony Thompson fight either, in fact it was Thompson who got 'injured' but in reality Dan Goossen didn't want to put Tony Thompson into the ring with Toney as the relationship between James and Dan Goossen became tense. That's why this fight didn't happen, and it's a shame really.

That said, I would like to see Toney get into the ring with either Thompson or even McCline at this point, but I don't think it's in his power to make it happen now after his split with Goossen.

 

I agree I guess Toney would probably last the distance against either Klitschko, even now. I do not think he can beat any of the two though, even if he has slimmed down to 220lbs now. Too little too late.

But Toney is not a fat cruiserweight, he's a fat middleweight who's able to compete with the HWs due to his talent alone. Realistically seen, Toney is a natural SMW, maybe even LHW, he looked good at those weights. Ironically he wasn't very successfull as a LHW, but that was due to other factors than weight.

On a sidenote, I'm not a fan of Ruiz and he could indeed be labelled as a cheating club fighter who's just been backed by Don King; but you have to consider that he fought a who is who of this eras HWs (except for the Klits) and gave everyone a tough fight, except for Toney, Tua and Roy Jones. He arguably beat Valuev, at least once (though Valuev is a talentless slug himself).

 

Ok, here are my thoughts about it:

I would have loved to see Toney against either Klitschko a couple years ago. I'd even like to see it happen now, but at the same time I do not think he can beat either Klitschko at this moment. He's too old now, and he's faded. I think he might still last the distance though.

HOWEVER, John 'Iceman' Scully, who is probably the most knowledgeable poster on ESB, who was a successfull amateur and pro boxer himself (and a very good one I might add), and who also has sparred with Toney, has stated on the grind radio only a couple weeks ago that an in shape version of Toney, a 'no huffin' and puffin', tip top shape version of Toney would present a stylistic nightmare for either Klitschko. Toney is reportedly 220lbs now.

It's true that Toney has not earned a shot at the Klitschkos belts. At the same time many of Klitschkos opponents during the last years didn't deserve their shots. And I don't understand why Wlad chose to fight Hasim Rahman instead of Toney. Rahman quit on his stool in his rematch with Toney - and he got rewarded with a title-shot for it. Ok, I know he was just a replacement for Povetkin - but Toney could have been that replacement too, he even looked good and in halfways acceptable shape in his rematch with Rahman.

As for Toney having been offered fights with either Klitschko, it has indeed been stated by some posters that Toney was offered to fight Vitali Klitschko in 2005. Some boxing sites also reported that Toney was offered a fight with Wlad Klitschko. If this is true or not I cannot know for sure, nobody outside the parties involved (Toney, the Klitschkos and their promoters) can. Toney was once quoted saying that he was offered 'chump change' to face Vitali Klitschko. But in a recent interview Toney claimed that he always was willing to face either Klitschko but that he swears that he never was offered a fight with them. Toney has been calling out the Klitschkos for years, you don't do that when you don't want a fight. Plus Toney isn't exactly known for ducking fighters or cherry picking his opponents.

 

Toney was not a mediocre fighter. He was very competitive against Top 10 ranked Holyfield, Ruiz, Rahman, Peter and he beat the Top 20 ranked contenders Oquendo and Guinn. Is that mediocre especially for a middlweight between age 35-40?

Start showing some respect for the ATG, Toney.

 

With all due respect to the Iceman, this is total bull****. Toney is a 5'9 counterpuncher with no significant power at HW. The most similar fighter to Toney who actually fought both Klits was Byrd. Wlad won every round in two fights against him. Yes, Vitali quit but outlanded him 2:1. Obviously, Vitali would win any fight against Byrd without an injury. To beat the Klitschkos, a small fighter would need amazing speed and firepower. Defensive skills is the last thing that will ever be a good asset for beating either Klitschko. Toney lost some fights and got some lucky wins at 160 - 175. Both Klits would destroy Griffin, Thadzi an all of the fighters Toney beat.

 

I like james but no way he is going to beat one of the Klitcs,
the combination of size, power and skills is against Toney.
Toney have no enough power to earn respect from Klits.
The better chance Toney have is against Chagaev or even Valuev.

 

What's Scully name on here? I had no idea he posted here? Yes. toney really could've done more with his HW career. CW was probably his best later weight.

 

You are just totally disrespecting an ATG who started out as a middleweight and hold his won against several Top ten heavyweight contenders.Total disrespect.

The klits beat Griffin, Thadzi...man the Klits are natural 6 foot seven heavyweights. Toney is a 5 foot 10 middleweight.If Toney had lucky wins (Tiberi), he also had unlucky defeats (Peter,Thadzi, Griffin).

It is clear that a younger Toney in prime shape would present a stylistic challenge for any heavyweight and yes particluarly the Klits. With their robot style they may win the fight but they woudl find it very hard to connect. And also, Toney and Byrd may be slick but that is where the similarities end. Toney has an old school style, Byrd has not.

 

yep, John Scully posted on here a while ago. His user name is/was IceJohnScully

 

Agreed. At this stage, Toney should go after the WBA strap and not the Klits.

I still think an in shape Toney beats both Valuev and Chagaev. Chagaev is totally overrated.

 

Your ATG Boy was out boxed by Samuel Peter.:good

Thou he was bit out of shape.. but in-shape might been different story, he coulda woulda shoulda :lmao:

 

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no way toney beats chagaev, maybe the 2003 version but at this point - no.

 

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No he didn't, but 13 months inactivity (and only one fight in 22 months) hurts there. And I don't think I even need to talk about how unconvincing Toney looked in his last fight either.

Rahman II aside Toney's been on a pretty wretched run. That wasn't exactly an awesome showing itself, and Wlad's facile victory showed just how on the slide Hasim is these days anyway.