Is James Toney Really Finished ?

I was just looking at an old thread i made, and i was saying James Toney should retire. Because im a big fan of his, and this was just after his fight with Danny Batchelder.

But then he comesback with a decent performance against Hasim Rahman, but then he has another sub-par peformance against Fres Oquendo. Who isn't a bad fighter IMO, and that kind of style has troubled James Toney in the past, see the Terry McGroom fight.

So is he really finished ? he seems to go through these bad patches, of strugging against lower class opposition. But i think he has one good one left in him, if he's next opponent is chosen carefully. A fighter that stands right in front of him with no movement, allowing him to rattle off his counters.

I'd think his window is just about closed; but he's the type who will always surprise you. If he wasn't such a fat ass he'd be like a Bernard Hopkins or even a Foreman.

You have to be an eternal optimist but love the spirit.

Been a fan for the longest but si....the man is done on the elite level.Mentally and more so physically.He has always been on a roller coaster and at times his own worst enemy...just doing enough to get by and at other times looking as if he could walk into any boxing ring in any era over history and look like he was at home.He can beat all of the one dimensional plodders but wont do much more I believe.Any one specific in mind?

He is certainly done and could get beat by guys he would have smashed to bits in the past.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spicoli

You have to be an eternal optimist but love the spirit.

Been a fan for the longest but si....the man is done on the elite level.Mentally and more so physically.He has always been on a roller coaster and at times his own worst enemy...just doing enough to get by and at other times looking as if he could walk into any boxing ring in any era over history and look like he was at home.He can beat all of the one dimensional plodders but wont do much more I believe.Any one specific in mind?

---

I think a fight with Oleg Maskaev, would be a good style match up for him.

He's finished as a serious fighter. It's amazing that I can look at his excellent career & think what a waste of the talent it was. Fat bastard.

yes and I've thought so for a while. This isn't a crack at you necessarily Ice but how many times have fans of fighters gone "I think he's got one more great performance left" when that guy doesn't have that one great fight left. See Tyson. See Roy Jones. Etc.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ICB

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spicoli

You have to be an eternal optimist but love the spirit.

Been a fan for the longest but si....the man is done on the elite level.Mentally and more so physically.He has always been on a roller coaster and at times his own worst enemy...just doing enough to get by and at other times looking as if he could walk into any boxing ring in any era over history and look like he was at home.He can beat all of the one dimensional plodders but wont do much more I believe.Any one specific in mind?

---

I think a fight with Oleg Maskaev, would be a good style match up for him.

---

Could be.Oleg is an odd one.I thought that he was the type Haye should have looked into for early Hvy exposure...title ties,athreat and feet of stone but hitable & chinny.But ultimatly for Toney...what does it get him?Toney not exactly elusive now.

I think Toney is done now. He's been pretty inactive since Peter beat him quite easily in that second fight. What with him being in his 40's and showing no sign of fighting since Oquendo I think it's best that he just let's it be now.

There is nothing more he can prove at his age.

Yes, Toney is finished.

Given how smart he is and how great his chin is, he could probably still survive thru 12 rounds with a top guy, but he can't actually beat one at this point.

He should call it quits.

Well we can all agree he's not finished eating yet.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LEGION

Well we can all agree he's not finished eating yet.

---

Correct. He hasn't even reached his prime yet in that regard.

That guy was genuinely extremely talented but the pod he grew up got weary on him and he obviously lost a few fights because of it and reduced considerably his durability.. Personally, i think he could have had the potential to be a kind of B-Hop durability and talent talking but... down the drain. Or the stomach shall I say.

Piss on everyone saying that Toney was a wasted talent. The old fucker was robbed of two heavyweight titles at an old age when he could have retired (on top). The man is a phenom and one of the best boxers ever. Fought over 100 pounds competitively at an elite level from what he started out as. He has ducked nobody and fought everyone. Sure he showed up a few times not prepared and was gifted decisions, but there aren't very many fighters that have fought as many times or as long as he has that hasn't.

One of my favorite heavyweight fights is Toney/Holyfield......man he just OWNED Evander. Everyone wants to ride Holyfields joy toy......but Toney fought all who came.

That was his last great performance against Holyfield.