Best defensive fighter? Mayweather or Toney

Both were/are defensive geniuses who could slip and slide punches like not many other could or can do. Both were considered P4P the best in their prime. Which one is the better defensive fighter? Not trying to bow out; but I think this one's a draw in all honesty. Toney moved all the way up to heavyweight to make the mediocre big men look like the non-technicians they were. You can't fight power without some kind of special skill; and he had it in spades. Floyd's record speaks for itself. Toney was a better combination puncher and in a pound for pound matchup, it would be a tossup......but I'd favour Toney. ;)

What are you talking about,,, we are talking about boxing,,, let floyd do his shoulder roll in a street fight or mma fight vs couture and he would be crying for his daddy and uncle That's my point in Boxing your not allowed to duck or lean past your waist line James Toney go way further than that yet the refs never call him on that foul why do think Sam Peter had to sledge hammer him on the side of the ear ?

Peter, his defense is so good he can use his head to block punches

James Toney was the better counter puncher and Floyd is the better defensive boxer. Keywords being: Boxer, fighter. Floyd is a pure boxer with a boxers mentality while Toney is a boxer with a fighters mentality. Floyd gets hit less but he also counters a lot less then Toney. James is willing to stand inside the pocket or off the ropes and counter. Mayweather uses his legs more to go with his shoulder roll while Toney stands right infront of you and slips, slides, dips, rolls and has a wider variety of punches and moves. In terms of not getting hit then yes Floyd gets hit a lot less but he also doesn't take as many risks as James. In my opinion James has more boxing skills and is the more entertaining fighter then Floyd.

The brain damage he's taken comes from the insane amount of sparring he's done over the years. Whitaker's speech is more slurred than Toney, does that mean his defense was inferior? And of course, he's fought heavyweights, cruiserweights and lightheavyweights. Floyd hasn't done that. People also like to forget that Toney's speech was never good to begin with. He's more or less always had issues with that.

Have you heard James Toney speak lately? :sad: I think I'll vote Mayweather on this one toney's slurred speech speaks for itself.... of course floyd is superior. The brain damage he's taken comes from the insane amount of sparring he's done over the years. Whitaker's speech is more slurred than Toney, does that mean his defense was inferior?

IMHO , No boxer in the modern history has a Ring Generalship to be put on a par with Rigondeaux's ! Rigondeaux is a unique boxer to watch ! Mayweather isn't the best defensive fighter , but I don't remember one who takes risks less than him . he is intelligent boxer " I am not sure about being intelligent person " What the hell are you talking about? Rigondeaux takes way less risks than Mayweather. Throwing the amount of punches Rigondeaux does when he meets a good fighter would be embarrassing for a heavyweight but at his weight it's a joke. Also, Mayweather is fighting way above his initial weight class unlike Rigondeaux. Watch Mayweather when he was young - he was probably 5x as aggressive as Rigondeaux. I don't care how good Rigondeaux is, he's one of the most boring fighters I've ever seen as he won't even throw when he's outclassing his opponent.

Mayweather for sure

You mean the first fight...that was scored so poorly the WBC ordered a rematch? I can't tell if this is sarcasm. Really????

Guillermo Rigondeaux #1 Floyd is #2 IMHO , No boxer in the modern history has a Ring Generalship to be put on a par with Rigondeaux's ! Rigondeaux is a unique boxer to watch ! Mayweather isn't the best defensive fighter , but I don't remember one who takes risks less than him . he is intelligent boxer " I am not sure about being intelligent person "

speaking of james toney at his offensive/defensive finest, pull up james toney vs. iran barkley on youtube...

Toney didn't clinch and didn't move much on his feet, he was right in front of his opponent rolling and slipping shots. Mayweather does a combination of rolling/slipping, moving and clinching. Overall Mayweather is harder to hit but if he was forced to be flat footed and couldn't clinch he wouldn't look as good as Toney. Prime examples of that being the Castillo, Oscar and Cotto fights. But overall yeah, Floyd was the better defensive fighter of the two although Toney had that eye catching offense. Havin said all that, Sam Peter is obviously the best defensive fighter of my life time, "WHO NES???"

Toney leans his head way past his waist line let him try that in a street fight and see if he's a good defensive fighter Oh I forgot he got choked out in 20 seconds when he tried that in MMA What are you talking about,,, we are talking about boxing,,, let floyd do his shoulder roll in a street fight or mma fight vs couture and he would be crying for his daddy and uncle

fmj - great defensive fighter jt - great fighter with excellent defense fmj i give being the better defensive fighter, but prefer jt's fighting style better... much respect to both

Its James Toney.... Toney could show up fat as hell, hardly train, fight a guy like jones, peter, rahman, and hardly get touched,,,,, I dont see how floyd could do the same,,,,, I think if floyd pulled a toney and added 40 pounds and was fat and out of shape at lhw,, kovolev or stevenson would put him to sleep,,, but that doesnt happen to james toney because you can ever hit him flush, and when you do he has a granite chin,, Toney leans his head way past his waist line let him try that in a street fight and see if he's a good defensive fighter Oh I forgot he got choked out in 20 seconds when he tried that in MMA

Pernell Whitaker is he fought everyone in their prime

Also Mayweather's compubox stats would be different if he had fought prime Jones, Nunn and McCallum x 2.

Money May gets my vote

The one that gets hit less. Isn't that the purpose of defense?

Its James Toney.... Toney could show up fat as hell, hardly train, fight a guy like jones, peter, rahman, and hardly get touched,,,,, I dont see how floyd could do the same,,,,, I think if floyd pulled a toney and added 40 pounds and was fat and out of shape at lhw,, kovolev or stevenson would put him to sleep,,, but that doesnt happen to james toney because you can ever hit him flush, and when you do he has a granite chin,,