Some people seem to believe that James Toney is the man.

Why? Is it the WBC "Continental Americas Heavyweight" and IBA "Heavyweight Champ" titles? Or that whopping he put on the aging Evander? Or, could it be I missed something during that Jirov bout? Recently though, he got my attention with his domination of ...... Danny Green, now that's impressive.

Really though, Toney had his day from 1991 to 94, notably against Barkley, but those are the 'ole days. He needs to beat "somebody", soon. Who?

Scroll through the first 5 or so pages - there's Toney fans, Toney skeptics, Toney lovers and nuthuggers...

Plenty of opinions out there - I think the guy's only got a handful of fights left in him and I don't think he can beat any of the champs, maybe Brewster. He should have kept his WBO ranking a while back when he was Lamon's challenger. The guy's a fat loudmouth right now fighting Father Time with steroids - and he's not winning.

toney is a skilled fighter with the potential of being the heavyweight champ but i think he might be past his prime and could get caught while attempting to win a title

toney is a skilled fighter with the potential of being the heavyweight champ but i think he might be past his prime and could get caught while attempting to win a title


i agree. he is ridiculously talented, but his past troubles are going to catch up with him when he goes for the biggest fight of his career

Great fighter, masterpiece of technician...Showed tremendous skill at cruiserweight. Dominated one of the greatest heavyweights ever when he was well past his prime. Fought and dominated an undefeated fighter seemed to lack the power of finishing him off or maybe bookers chin was good? Landed precise shots throughout the night (although his target was right infront of him).


Toney is a great fighter no disrespect but he doesnt belong at heavyweight...He might not be able to knockout any of the top heavyweights and his chin cant be touched so he could be fighting some hard 12 rounders in his next couple of fights....

His plus to this though besides his chin and his great skill is his tremendous stamina, a lot of the heavies today tire and toney can bang the whole 12 rounds so this is a plus and gives him a HUGE edge in the later rounds....

I think we have seen the best of him, although I think he will win a few more and then fade out...

??????-Is my answer, to many questions are up in the air for toney right now for me....Im split onto it.

James Toney has tremendous skills, and he has the ability to be a champion.

Toney is the best HW out there hands down. His speed, chin, stamina and heart is too much for anyone to deal with. And is he has enough power to put down Jirov and Holyfield, i'm sure he can put down anyone. Those 2 are tough as nails

Great fighter, masterpiece of technician...Showed tremendous skill at cruiserweight. Dominated one of the greatest heavyweights ever when he was well past his prime. Fought and dominated an undefeated fighter seemed to lack the power of finishing him off or maybe bookers chin was good? Landed precise shots throughout the night (although his target was right infront of him).


Toney is a great fighter no disrespect but he doesnt belong at heavyweight...He might not be able to knockout any of the top heavyweights and his chin cant be touched so he could be fighting some hard 12 rounders in his next couple of fights....

His plus to this though besides his chin and his great skill is his tremendous stamina, a lot of the heavies today tire and toney can bang the whole 12 rounds so this is a plus and gives him a HUGE edge in the later rounds....

I think we have seen the best of him, although I think he will win a few more and then fade out...

??????-Is my answer, to many questions are up in the air for toney right now for me....Im split onto it.

im not sold on his stamina he looked very tired towards the end of the jirov fight as did jirov. could be just jirovs keep coming froward fighting style though that tired toney out

Toney is the best HW out there hands down. His speed, chin, stamina and heart is too much for anyone to deal with. And is he has enough power to put down Jirov and Holyfield, i'm sure he can put down anyone. Those 2 are tough as nails

I agree except for the part about him being the beat HW out, Byrd is. ;)

Byrd vs. Toney would be a boxing purists dream.

sad as it may sound, I think John Ruiz is the best heavyweight right now. He and Byrd really need to fight. They're both King fighters. The loser will still be taken care of; maybe even get a shot at a different (read: WBO) belt.

sad as it may sound, I think John Ruiz is the best heavyweight right now. He and Byrd really need to fight. They're both King fighters. The loser will still be taken care of; maybe even get a shot at a different (read: WBO) belt.

Ruiz is tough, but Bryd would would have a field day with Ruiz, just like RJJ did.

...and an even better talker, but he ain't a heavyweight. A guy like V Klit is just too big and strong - Toney could never get to him.

Having said that, he's probably a top 10 heavy right now (I think I just contradicted myself, but oh well ;) )

yeah, i think a great deal of vitali's success relies on his size and guts

James Toney will unify the belts and hold them until he retires. I hope you catch the sarcasm because I am laying it on pretty thick.

No way! Skill wise Toney maybe the best fighter in the world but at heavy V Klitsko is the best. Who will beat him?? Byrd beat him but he lost nealy all the rounds and it was pull out on injury!
Ruiz? No way, Klits walks through him. Brewster is a flsh in the pan and Toney is too small.
Klitscko is the best heavy in the world. And if you disagree, tell me who will beat him and HOW?

Some people seem to believe that James Toney is the man.

Why? Is it the WBC "Continental Americas Heavyweight" and IBA "Heavyweight Champ" titles? Or that whopping he put on the aging Evander? Or, could it be I missed something during that Jirov bout? Recently though, he got my attention with his domination of ...... Danny Green, now that's impressive.

Really though, Toney had his day from 1991 to 94, notably against Barkley, but those are the 'ole days. He needs to beat "somebody", soon. Who?

Just thought I'd redirect things back to the first question.

Who does Toney need to fight/beat to move on and up?

Toney is ranked #1 WBC and WBO. I don't know what formalities he has to go through - but it looks like if he can just not be injured, he'll get a shot next or a fight after next. All he has to do is stay ranked and not lose.

A John Ruiz would help, a Chris Byrd or...this might offend, a mike Tyson. Tyson is shot and Toney might barter him over 12!

Some people seem to believe that James Toney is the man.

Why? Is it the WBC "Continental Americas Heavyweight" and IBA "Heavyweight Champ" titles? Or that whopping he put on the aging Evander? Or, could it be I missed something during that Jirov bout? Recently though, he got my attention with his domination of ...... Danny Green, now that's impressive.

Really though, Toney had his day from 1991 to 94, notably against Barkley, but those are the 'ole days. He needs to beat "somebody", soon. Who?

Are you not aware that he's injured right now? When he comes back, he can tune up with Sweet Dick Willy if he wants. He just needs to be active so that the WBC or WBO can name him as the mandatory. He's ranked #1 on both.

im not sold on his stamina he looked very tired towards the end of the jirov fight as did jirov. could be just jirovs keep coming froward fighting style though that tired toney out



Most heavyweights wouldnt be able to bang at jirov's level...Both fighters are tremendous athletes and jirov is ALWAYS in top condition, I got tired just watching them both fight....


You are correct about the styles, I think a fight w/ a bigger fighter would be a lot slower and toney would plot more and move forward but slowly and not be at such a high pace although if needed Toney can kick it in gear....

Toney has all the right tools for him to be heavyweight champ, he can easily take all of them to the scorecards or even late rounds and clinch the Win.


Toneys heart and chin cant be questioned and truthfully cant be touched.

no way toney can beat tyson.. the rest maybe

Most heavyweights wouldnt be able to bang at jirov's level...Both fighters are tremendous athletes and jirov is ALWAYS in top condition, I got tired just watching them both fight....


You are correct about the styles, I think a fight w/ a bigger fighter would be a lot slower and toney would plot more and move forward but slowly and not be at such a high pace although if needed Toney can kick it in gear....

Toney has all the right tools for him to be heavyweight champ, he can easily take all of them to the scorecards or even late rounds and clinch the Win.


Toneys heart and chin cant be questioned and truthfully cant be touched.

How can his chin not be questioned? He has yet to fight a true heavyweight.

How can his chin not be questioned? He has yet to fight a true heavyweight.

Good point. In a legitimately overseen heavyweight division, none of us know the name Rydell Booker. Jirov and 41 year old Holyfield are not good measures of a 250 lb+ kid smacking you in the head for 12 rounds.

Good point. In a legitimately overseen heavyweight division, none of us know the name Rydell Booker. Jirov and 41 year old Holyfield are not good measures of a 250 lb+ kid smacking you in the head for 12 rounds.

And Booker has fought most of his fights at CW.

Jirov may not be a good measure of Toney's skillz at hw, but Jirov is a better fighter than most of today's heavyweights

Jirov may not be a good measure of Toney's skillz at hw, but Jirov is a better fighter than most of today's heavyweights

And Jirov has a goose egg for wins at HW.

And Jirov has a goose egg for wins at HW.

His first win will be over a former cruiser in Moorer.

It won't just be a win, it'll be a KTFO. Moorer is shot, he shouldn't even be fighting

Toney is great, but don;t think he's top 10 P4P at the minute.

That's where ring has him

James Toney has tremendous skills, and he has the ability to be a champion.

'Nuff said. All of the if's and's or but's need to be squashed right ****ing now. Toney is a great fighter period, whether or not you think he has the stuff to win a championship is subject to opinion but logically speaking he could outbox any of the current champions besides Byrd.

One thing I will say is James needs to cut the juice now. It will only continue to magnify his probability of injury in the future and the extra weight was definitely keeping him too tight in the fight with Booker. Some people would attribute that to age but Toney still slipped the majority of that bums punches but he did get nailed by a couple pats because of the weight, if he continues to put muscle on that will become more of a problem in the future.

I'd like to see James end his career on a high note now and prove a lot of these naysayers wrong.

i'd like to see him in deep waters.

toney vs byrd is a purists ideal