James Toney vs Iran Barkley incredible display of boxing

**Beanflicker** · 04-09-2013 03:09 PM

I just rewatched this fight because someone put a good quality version on youtube, and was I ever blown away by Toney's boxing. Sometimes now that I'm used to the old fat Toney, I forget how good he was in his prime. I know Iran isn't exactly Mr. Sweet Science but I think prime Toney is a rought night for anyone in the history of the middleweight division. The combination of outside and inside fighting, the jabbing, the counters, the body work, the selected power punching... I know most have seen this but it's worth giving it a rewatch. The Sweet Science displayed like very few in the history of the sport can.

**Master** · 04-09-2013 08:30 PM

I was genuinely scared for Toney because Barkley was menacing, rough and ugly.

Iran had just beaten Holmes and was very scary. Toney was not intimidated and did not worry at all. Toney said that was the hardest left hook he was hit outside of the heavyweight division and he was hurt but could not show it to Barkley . That was James at his best, another good one is Toney against Charles Williams and a brutal ending.

**Hulk** · 04-10-2013 05:39 AM

I remember feeling sorry for Iran Barkley when I watched this fight (in about 2007). He just got counterpunched to bits. Superb boxing.

**Gandalf** · 04-10-2013 01:22 PM

I watch Toney's fights amongst others as a way to unwind of a weekday evening and he is always fun to watch. Even fat Toney could be great to watch too, I was watching the McGuinn fight just the other day and Toney was excellent. Brilliant combinations, hitting hard in both hands, lovely uppercuts, just beautiful to watch, and of course evading things all over the place. If only the Toney of then had stayed in shape, properly beat Rahman and then outboxed the Klits. I really believe he could have done it, I really do. These HW's don't have any of that skillset.