Quote:
Originally Posted by SPREAD
Toney wasn't quick at middleweight?
Toney had good hand speed, especially in combinations.
He's coordination from slipping punches to countering beautifully with speed and within the pocket is part of his raw talent and gifts if you will.
You could try and teach Ricky Hatton those skills for the best of a century and he wouldn't be able to do it.
Hence James Toney was gifted and a raw talent.
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he was very much a talent, but if you're talking about the most physically gifted fighters of all time he doesn't really warrant a mention. roy jones, muhammad ali, sugar ray leonard, these are among the most physically gifted fighters of all time, and toney doesn't have physical gifts on that level.
if you're talking about the mental gifts that a fighter possesses, then i would probably agree with you in saying that he's among the most gifted. he has a fighter's constitution. he had incredible timing and reflexes, both offensively and defensively. he blended defense with offense as well as it can be done. boxing appeared natural to him. he sparred an ungodly amount.
and he has one of the best chins you will ever see.