Thread: James Toney Question

Sandman
ive seen a lot of videos on james toney and his counter punching, but was wondering what weight he started at, and if he did it at a lower weight or just when he got to be a bigger guy (because then punches would be slower and he could counter easier) it could have been a good idea

He started at middleweight, could have possibly even fought at 154 when he debuted but don't think so. And yes, he very much a counter puncher by long before he turned pro I imagine. Youtube his fights with Michael Nunn, Reggie Johnson, McCallum or Iran Barkley. All the same moves he TRIED to keep using at the higher weights. His skills really have only diminished if anything over the last 15+ years.

Originally Posted by Sandman1995

Sandman
ive seen a lot of videos on james toney and his counter punching, but was wondering what weight he started at, and if he did it at a lower weight or just when he got to be a bigger guy (because then punches would be slower and he could counter easier) it could have been a good idea

he was 8lbs 4 oz when he started.

James Toney always said he was a heavyweight and should have fought there earlier. I disagree and think he should have stayed at cruiserweight and ruled the division.

Originally Posted by p4pking

He started at middleweight, could have possibly even fought at 154 when he debuted but don't think so. And yes, he very much a counter puncher by long before he turned pro I imagine. Youtube his fights with Michael Nunn, Reggie Johnson, McCallum or Iran Barkley. All the same moves he TRIED to keep using at the higher weights. His skills really have only diminished if anything over the last 15+ years.

That answers it nicely.

He started at 154, won his first title at 160. He said in 1991 that he would be HW champion by 2004. His fight with Iran Barkley is a classic, and I also really liked the Liles fight, and the two Hembrick fights. And the Delgado fight; Delgado had just gone 12 with Hearns and given Hearns a hard fight and Toney just destroyed him in 6.

ounter punching was always a speciality of his as was the shoulder roll....As he stepped up un weight actually he got lazier with counter punching

toney supposedly played at 195-200 lbs when he played football in high school.

Originally Posted by captainanddew

toney supposedly played at 195-200 lbs when he played football in high school.

Yes that is what I read too and where he believes he should have been a heavyweight earlier. However someone commented at the time that his hands were too small to be considered a decent heavyweight.

Well weighing 200 pounds hardly makes someone a natural Heavyweight, and it's hard to imagine fighting at the lower weights didn't help him to hone his skills. Not to mention the HW division was only in much better shape before Toney ate his way up there. But, of course he did hurt his chances of bring a presence by getting so fat and lazy by the time he did. Could've been in some great fights if he had dedicated himself to moving up a few years earlier, and it would've been really fun to watch. I don't see him beating a fresher Holyfield and obviously Lennox would've flattened him, but guys like Shannon Briggs, Michael Moorer, Golota or even Mike Tyson would've been really fun fights. Imagine Toney vs Tyson pre 2002, the press conference could've been a PPV