You all must have forgotten - James Nathaniel "Lights Out" Toney, boxing's worst best role model

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by IntentionalButt, Jul 2, 2021.


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  1. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    Excellent docu-style video I just stumbled across (came up in my YT recommendations after watching something completely unrelated, guess it knows me well enough to have boxing content loaded up in the algorithm :sisi1) - probably the best I've seen charting the course of Toney's career progress comprehensively, from MW through HW. From the brash Kronk gym boogeyman take-all-comers sparring legend days (oh to have been a spectator for those marathon sessions in the 90's), to his dad-bod sad denouement.

    It really is amazing how the modern archetype of slick old-school craft (yes, more than even Whitaker or Mayweather) arrived in the form of a guy at the other end of the self discipline spectrum from guys like Pernell and Floyd. Ate what he wanted, scoffed at bags and road work, basically was a poster boy for what not to do in camp - and yet was like a walking instructional video in-ring.

    Anybody know who narrates these for Rhythm Boxing? Lends a nice gravitas.
     
    IntentionalButt, Jul 2, 2021
    IntentionalButt, Jul 2, 2021
    #1
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  2. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    YouTube knows me too: looked up a music video the other day and all the recommendations were boxing, haha.

    The joke back in the day was that the Toney-Holyfield fight got canceled because James couldn’t make heavyweight.

    But what a joy to watch his skills.
     
    Saintpat, Jul 2, 2021
    Saintpat, Jul 2, 2021
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  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    That was pretty fabulous.
     
    McGrain, Jul 2, 2021
    McGrain, Jul 2, 2021
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  4. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Just imagine what might have been, if he had been born with a good work ethic.
     
    janitor, Jul 2, 2021
    janitor, Jul 2, 2021
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  5. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    Does he lose to RJJ even, in that case? Starting from that question things get very interesting.
     
    IntentionalButt, Jul 2, 2021
    IntentionalButt, Jul 2, 2021
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  6. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Toney is an all time bad ass. How many fighters can have a 30 year career without ever being knocked out?
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2021
    AwardedSteak863, Jul 2, 2021
    AwardedSteak863, Jul 2, 2021
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  7. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    When he rose to the occasion, he was pretty special. But he is often excused for his Tiberi and Thadzi type performances. Those are factored in too in my assessment.

    But he never beats Jones at 175 and below.
     
    Seamus, Jul 2, 2021
    Seamus, Jul 2, 2021
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  8. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Probably still loses to RJJ, but makes a splash at heavyweight.
     
    janitor, Jul 2, 2021
    janitor, Jul 2, 2021
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  9. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Every now and again you say something really odd, and this is that.
     
    McGrain, Jul 2, 2021
    McGrain, Jul 2, 2021
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  10. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    If he had a good work ethic he wouldn't have ever fought at heavyweight to state the obvious before McGrain explains it.
     
    JohnThomas1, Jul 2, 2021
    JohnThomas1, Jul 2, 2021
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  11. Kamikaze

    Kamikaze Bye for now! banned Full Member

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    You don't get where he got with a bad work ethic. What became of him later yes but where he got required many hours of diligent study, practice and sacrifice. Even with dwindling passion with knowledge of the game alone a product of all that hard work he was he able to fight men many times more then his psychical equal.
     
    Kamikaze, Jul 3, 2021
    Kamikaze, Jul 3, 2021
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  12. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    What I am saying, is that he probably had it in him to beat men like Rahman and Peter.
     
    janitor, Jul 3, 2021
    janitor, Jul 3, 2021
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  13. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    He talked about fighting at heavyweight much earlier in his career.

    I think that it was always his end goal.
     
    janitor, Jul 3, 2021
    janitor, Jul 3, 2021
    #13
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  14. Kamikaze

    Kamikaze Bye for now! banned Full Member

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    Iran Barkley an him should have had a HW rematch. ;) Then the winner should have fought Corbett coming in as the favourite.
     
    Kamikaze, Jul 3, 2021
    Kamikaze, Jul 3, 2021
    #14
  15. From.Russia

    From.Russia Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Oh yeah, my top 5 fav middleweight fighter and GGG vs Toney is also my top 10 fantasy match up, but I think Toney would win. Actually every soviet school fighter would have struggled with Toney.
     
    From.Russia, Jul 3, 2021
    From.Russia, Jul 3, 2021
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