Toney: Becoming a believer

After looking at some Toney fights again lately, I am starting to see the possibilities for Toney to become a heavyweight champion. It is true he has not fought a "natural" heavyweight until now, so the real test (of theory) is still up ahead. Toney is a smart skillful boxer, knows the tricks, has the experience and the ability to adapt during fights. He is very slick, rolls with blows and blocks punches with arms and shoulders. The only downside with this style is that punches blocked with his shoulders or the glancing blows are sometimes counted by the Judges (both Griffin fights!). After a clear knockdown by Reggie Johnson (6 weeks after the Nunn war) and (to my opinion) being knocked off balance by RJJ, Tonney never has been down again (and met some hard punchers after that). He has both heart and toughness; Toney never gives up and against Brooker he did not react when Brooker started aim punches on his hurt arm (and in doing so giving the impression nothing was wrong). Real knockout power he seems to be lacking on this (and cruiser) weight. His high amount punches do wear people down. My predictions: Against Vitali I think him too slick to be hit on long distance. By closing the distance, with inside fighting he will be able to hit Vitali (not much defense there), hurt and cut Vitali and he will be able to stop Vitali in the late rounds. Against Byrd it would go to the scorecards it think, and will be close. Against Ruiz, he only have to wait for Ruiz to come, slip the punche(s) and counter. His work inside will wear down Ruiz and Ruiz will be knocked out in the late rounds. I hope to see one of these (maybe all ;) ) in 2005