Just curious as who you would pick in this matchup. Their common opponent Blade Barkeley got me thinking about this match up. I know the what ifs get overdone but I think this could have been an interesting one
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Just curious as who you would pick in this matchup. Their common opponent Blade Barkeley got me thinking about this match up. I know the what ifs get overdone but I think this could have been an interesting one
That is one hell of a fight.
My first reaction is Hearns can't hurt Toney while Tony probably can hurt Hearns. But then again if Hearns can make Benitez become the aggressor and is a good enought boxer to beat Radar? Can't he do the same to Toney?
Man there's a bunch of ways to see this one. Must ponder.
In my opinion Toney was not the fighter at 160 that he became at 168, 175. But he was still really good. He beat McCallum, and I think Mike would've beaten Hearns.
Tommy's big weapon was always the right hand, and that plays right into Toney's (right) hands. About that time, Hearns was working a pretty good left hook to the body into his game plan but I don't think he would throw that much against Toney. Hearns couldn't fight a lick inside and hooking the body would bring him and Toney real close real fast.
Hearns wasn't too durable. Toney would stop him in 8-9 (remember, DeWitt hurt Hearns to the body, and Olijiade-spelling?- was on his last legs and seriously hurt Tommy with a hook).
:o Iron chinned Toney vs Ice or be iced Hearns:-\
Toney tooks shots from heavyweights and hurled back some, I think in their primes I'd go with Toney by a stoppage:cool:
Hearns could fight smart as he did with Benitez and use his height and reach. He would do that and out box Toney who was foxy with aggressive fighter. James was a joy to watch.
Id go for Tommy by ud.
but a Toney Ko isnt out of the question.
I dunno about the bold. At 160 he beat the Bodysnatcher, Merqui Sosa, Reggie Johnson and Michael Nunn. That's pretty freaking impressive.Quote:
Originally Posted by greynotsoold
I lean to Toney with it going to inside game and balance & control. Toney frankly dogged it in some matches...timed rounds and could coast leaving him there to be out hustled but man, he was a master at rolling with long shots and feeding sneak shots. More pressure puts a rockable Hearns inside down the stretch, I think Toney can take what he has worse case but Hearns will have a far worse time dealing with sharp counters, how James could use upper body as a mass feint and just Toney in top form really.
Excellent fight !
Have to agree with consensus here that Toney would be too durable and clever for Hearns, and counter that right hand with his own right hand all night until he knocked Hearns out.
James Toney may be embarassing himself now, but he was a magnificent boxer and counter puncher with a legendary chin.
LOVE a hypothetical matchup.
Very good one here indeed. Shame what has happened to Toney really he was sooooo good and slick at 160... he is remembered too much for his blob appearences at Heavy tho which is a real shame.
hmmmm... Hearns was one of my faves of all time but I am not sure if I can see him getting through to a young sharp slick Toney.
Toney decision.
(Heart): Hearns by humbling and devastating KO.
(Brain): Toney by decision.
Good answers, actually quite refreshing to see that people remember how good Toney was. I think it could go either way however the one scenario I don't see taking place is Hearns knocking Toney out. So Hearns would have to box and move otherwise James gets him
Good post, and two great fighters who both fought too long (so people remember them in their fading years)
Prime Toney was a tough SOB, old school skills, economical style and a good chin.
Prime Hearns was a freak of nature, a punch that travelled all the way to cruiserweight and boxing skills that allowed him to outbox Leonard twice and benitez.
It would be 12 (or 15) fabtiastic and tense rounds. Either guy could stop the other but - for me anyway - Tommy is that bit quicker on the trigger and would land first.
Tommy's only way to win this fight is by decision, as there's no way he'd KO the titanium chinned Toney.
Tommy loved the knockout & I believe he would be goaded into a slugfest by the unpleasant Toney & that would be his downfall, meaning James would probably stop him lateish.
Hearns could stop most people if he hit them right, Toney would be too elusive with his chin but Herans could still crack him all over.
I can't stand Toney, and would probably WILL Hearns into KO'ing him if they ever fought in a prime vs. prime universe. You know..... mind over matter?
I think Toney is a really really bad style for Hearns, great as the Hitman was I think he'd get stopped in the late rounds 9 out of 10 times. He'd clearly win rounds, and was capable of outboxing James for sure, but he'd have to be practically flawless in order to actually last the distance imo, Toney was as natural a counterpuncher as the sport has ever seen.
I think this fight would be alot like Michael Nunn vs James Toney.
Yeah, I could definitely see it going down in a similar manner.Quote:
Originally Posted by ICB
Toney by UD
Hearns would out box him and stay outside like he did with Benitez and not get suckered in. Toney was no Hagler.
If Hearns can outbox Leonard and Benitez then he can do it againts Toney too.
But Toney is a massive puncher at 160 and one shot can end it plus Toney has not suffered a one shot accident all his career with that defense so Hearns landing a schuler type of a right hand is very remote. Very interesting match.
I'll go with Hearns.
Don't get me wrong, I liked Hearns but he always lost those great big fights that he shouldn't have lost and he has a champion's heart no do doubt but James has mean streak and more movess than a bowl of jello during an earth quake just check out the moves that would nullify Hearns power unless he started quick and didn't let a thing like stamina ruin a possible win.
M compliments to the OP. This is one of the more fascinating fights I had never thought about and all the responses in the thread bring something to the table.