No Matter How Much You Hate James Toney...

Which non champions, outside of Tyson, Tua, Wlad, and Golota are a legit heavyweights today? I would put Rahman in the category of legit HW contender too. Monte Barrett would be on the fringes, as would Toney (even though Barrett has done a lot more at HW than Toney, I’m giving Toney some credit for natural talent and accomplishments in the lighter divisions). Other than that, there’s not much to choose from. Brock maybe? I hate to say it again, but I just don’t think Toney can beat Ruiz. Power or speed, that’s what it takes to beat him – skills don’t mean much against Mr. Clutch. Hey, that rhymes - maybe Ruiz can use it at the weigh-in! ;)

Who said I'm cheering for Ruiz? No one can hear you cheering for Johnny while his nuts are in your mouth... j/k.

How can you cheer for Ruiz when he fights illegally? When he doesnt clinch more than he lands punches, he loses. He is not a good fighter and doesnt deserve to be a champion. He fights illegally and if Don King wasnt his promoter, not a single fucking ref would let that bullshit slide. Who said I'm cheering for Ruiz?

James Toney is an old school fighter with skills,heart and toughness. The only problem is that he is an old,fat middleweight. I would like to think Toney will win and once and for all rid us of Darth Ruiz. Unfortunately, I think this will be a typical Ruiz fight. Painful to watch and ending with a Ruiz decision. The hype of James Toney as a heavyweight will be history. I pray to the Boxing gods that I'm wrong.

....He beat a completely washed up Holy and another blown up cruiser. So fuckin what????? That makes him a legit heavy?? Yeah right. lol lol lol Beating Ruiz doesn't make him legit either by the way. When he fights and beats a true heavy who is neither over the hill or a disgrace to boxing(who also is allowed to fight illegaly), and beats them, then I will buy into Toney being a legit heavy himself. Which non champions, outside of Tyson, Tua, Wlad, and Golota are a legit heavyweights today?

How can you possibly back something like that up? He's the same size as Mike Tyson. I don't care how old Holyfield was, Toney gave him a brutal beating unlike anyone since Bowe in their 3rd fight. Booker wasn't anything special, but he was an undefeated Heavyweight that Toney beat with ease. Saying Toney isn't a Heavyweight or is a fraud is ignorant. ....He beat a completely washed up Holy and another blown up cruiser. So fuckin what????? That makes him a legit heavy?? Yeah right. lol lol lol Beating Ruiz doesn't make him legit either by the way. When he fights and beats a true heavy who is neither over the hill or a disgrace to boxing(who also is allowed to fight illegaly), and beats them, then I will buy into Toney being a legit heavy himself.

James Toney is NOT a heavyweight. Roy Jones was NOT a heavyweight. Holyfield IS a small heavyweight. When discussing whether a fighter is a natural heavyweight, lightheavy, middleweight, etc. the issue is always the size of their skeleton. Not what they weighed ten years ago or what they weigh today. Look at this picture of Holyfield, who is a smallish heavyweight, standing next to Toney. They are roughly the same weight in this photo but Evander is obviously the naturally bigger man with a wider torso and ribcage (and overall frame size). No amount of muscle mass is going to give Toney a bigger frame or bigger fists. The guy is a bulked up middleweight, end of story. He could step through those ropes saturday night weighing 260 lbs at 6% bodyfat and he would not be a natural heavyweight. http://www.elsesports.net/tvcmult/124404275.jpg

I still think he is a fraud at heavyweight How can you possibly back something like that up? He's the same size as Mike Tyson. I don't care how old Holyfield was, Toney gave him a brutal beating unlike anyone since Bowe in their 3rd fight. Booker wasn't anything special, but he was an undefeated Heavyweight that Toney beat with ease. Saying Toney isn't a Heavyweight or is a fraud is ignorant.

......if you are rooting for him to lose to Ruiz, it means you hate boxing even more. You shouldn't care how much smack James talks. What you should care about is the sport's biggest disgrace getting beaten badly enough to jettison him out of the spotlight. John Ruiz is a cancer. He's a disgusting, boring fighter who continues (thanks to his promoter) to gobble up air time & slots on high-profile cards that could go to far more worthy fighters. Don't be self-serving this weekend. Think of the sport as a whole. Root against John Ruiz. Root for a brutal, embarrassing loss....one that gets rid of him & his piece of shit trainer. .....Jabs, I do not like James Toney, and you and I rarely agree, but man I think your right. At least Toney would make things more exciting. I still think he is a fraud at heavyweight but he is a far better representative than John Ruiz. What Ruiz does is just a sham and a shame for the sport. I do believe I will be rooting for James in this one.

Ruiz should have been DQ'd in nearly every one of his fights, but apparently excessive holding is allowed in the U.S. unless Jay Nady is the ref. Hopefully Nady is the ref because if he's not and if Toney comes in over 230 lbs, get ready ready for some more of this... http://www.boxingpress.de/fotos/Ruizchamp0403.jpg

I hate them both, but Ruiz is gonna knock Fat-Toney on his ass! The only way to beat Ruiz now-a-days is to out muscle him or have Jay Nady ref the fight. Golota came the closest to beating Ruiz cause Golota was stronger, but he got robbed. The Hug of War is a powerful weapon and when Ruiz is allowed to use it he is almost unbeatable!

after watching the Ruiz Jones fight, i lost all respect for the guy. he looked like a deer in headlights against Jones. the guy was a complete bum and i still think he is.

Not a fan then, Jabs... How can you cheer for Ruiz when he fights illegally? When he doesnt clinch more than he lands punches, he loses. He is not a good fighter and doesnt deserve to be a champion. He fights illegally and if Don King wasnt his promoter, not a single fucking ref would let that bullshit slide.

Im with you all the way Jab...1)Ruiz needs his teeth kicked in and 2)this has the making of a really ugly fight. Hopefully were wrong about #2. Here is the problem however, John Ruiz could get ko'd in brutal fashion in round number 1 and everyone that loves this sports knows damn well that Don King will have him back on tv fighting for another alphabet title or in an eliminator fight very soon. So I am hoping for Ruiz not only to be ko'd brutally but for him to rip his hamstring and tear his achilles on the way down. That post, from top to bottom, are my thoughts exactly.

Im with you all the way Jab...1)Ruiz needs his teeth kicked in and 2)this has the making of a really ugly fight. Hopefully were wrong about #2. Here is the problem however, John Ruiz could get ko'd in brutal fashion in round number 1 and everyone that loves this sports knows damn well that Don King will have him back on tv fighting for another alphabet title or in an eliminator fight very soon. So I am hoping for Ruiz not only to be ko'd brutally but for him to rip his hamstring and tear his achilles on the way down.

jones also stung ruiz once or twice and kept respect from him and even had ruiz cautious and waiting through most of the bout. jones stood his ground much more than people thought he could, we'll see if toney can make the same thing work but he does'nt have as much power in one shot so ruiz might not be to hesitant to step in and grab

I also don't know who is going to win this fight. You'd think James Toney's defense & counterpunching would work very well against a guy coming forward.....but James doesn't move his lower half enough to escape the clutches of Ruiz. Toney will slip Ruiz's one & only jab, but won't be able to avoid the follow-up GRAB. This has the makings for another horrendous Ruiz fight, unfortunately. That is exactly how I think the fight will go. Jones used alot of movement to beat Ruiz but Toney doesn't use that kind of movement. Toney is a slip and counter type fighter and I think once he slips something he will fall right into the hug defense of Ruiz once he tries to counter.

Funny that you're getting so much opposition to your thread, jabs...who knew Ruiz had so many defenders?

I also don't know who is going to win this fight. You'd think James Toney's defense & counterpunching would work very well against a guy coming forward.....but James doesn't move his lower half enough to escape the clutches of Ruiz. Toney will slip Ruiz's one & only jab, but won't be able to avoid the follow-up GRAB. This has the makings for another horrendous Ruiz fight, unfortunately.

I wouldn't mind seeing Toney beat Ruiz but I have a feeling Ruiz will win. If it was up to me I would just get rid of the entire heavyweight division not just Ruiz. I have never cared for heavyweights anyway and if you think the division looks bad now the future may be even worse.