By Brad Cooney
When I turned on the television the other night to tune into the Toney/Booker fight, I was pretty confident that Toney would would hand this guy his first loss. Well, I saw exactly that, and more.....
James Toney beat this guy like a rag doll for 12 rounds.. The truth of the matter is that this fight should have been stopped long before the final 12th round. Booker was even glancing at his corner with a look of desperation as if saying "My God, will somebody throw in the towell"???.... Booker just decided to take a knee and save his own hide.. I guess he figured if the Referee, and his own corner wouldn't do it, he would.
Toney came out of his corner in each round like a caged animal let free. Toney looked in pretty darn good shape for Toney Standards as well.. He punished Booker with jabs, rights.. and a brilliant upper cut that found its mark with just about every attempt. When you looked into the corner of James Toney, it was like looking at a well oiled machine..
Freddie Roach calmly sitting in front of Toney between each round giving advice, and some suggestions..and Toney just sort of relaxing on the stool listening... With the Roach, Toney connection, I see World Champion written all of it! Booker was just plain and simply out classed by Toney... I will say this however.. Booker showed me that he has a heart of a lion.. He at least tried his best.. he didn't go down in defeat fighting like someone just trying to survive.. he at least tried to throw punches to the best of his ability. But Toney was just too much for him.
I look forward to Toney's next fights.. no matter who it may be, they better be ready.. James Toney to me, looks like a hungry animal on the prowl for prey... I couldn't agree more.Thanks!
who is the real Heavywieght champ...no one?...For the first time in my life I don't know. I have to think about it. Well there's a case for....hmmmmm..select from a list of bums,save James Toney and Chris Byrd(a master boxer but really a blown up middle)...When I was a kid EVERYONE knew who the champ was.
This new Russian monster will be a box office drawer though because of his size he is a curiousity that u can bet HBO will exploit but IMO will be a splash in the pan...Talent level out of ten...maybe 5)
I am new to this forum so I am a little green however I have read some imput from some other folks and was stunned to see that some people believe that Liston DIDN'T take a dive in the second fight. That's just silly and that Mike Tyson could beat Tarver(and I am no big fan of Tarvers)...Mike's had it folks...deal with it.One more thing PPV for Jones/Hopkins?! Not from me.Although a Traver/Hopkins would be a good fight and even at fourty yeras old.. I'd pick Bernard.
"He certainly has more natural talent than I had and punches harder than I ever did. He's the one I'm really excited about." - Marvin Hagler on Nigel Benn in 1989Marvin beats Benn from a wheelchair...in his priime after hid prime...forver and ever....Hagler and Benn in the same sentence...C'mon!!
Yep I understand,
My big disblief is when Duran got ko ed in the first round by Hearn's. I couldn't accept it. I often think Duran took a dive but have to admit if he did he made it look good becuase he REALLY hit the canvas. I read a post were someone said Duran quit the SECOND fight because he had some gastric promblems...I don't believe it. I don't care who he knew or what he was told. Duran was just plain old outboxed....after all except for a loss to Dejesus (a loss he avenged)he was otherwise undefeated(You may want to double check that) and had beaten Ray in the first fight. He was just plain embarrassed.
Speaking of Canada
Gatti,Lennex lewis,hhhmmmm...Kirk Johnson took the money and ran.I drawing a blank here. There's some good boxers that migrate south where the action is. Gatti is NOT from New Jersey.
The whole shit theory is a big excuse. I personally thought Sugar Ray won the first fight. It was a close fight & if it would've been a draw I wouldn't have a problem with it. YEAH RIGHT...better go and look at that fight again....Duran brawled and BEAT Ray...not even close. A draw? C'mon!!!!!A shut out for Duran.
i seem to remember the announcers calling the fight acting surprised that Duran was celebrating before the announcement. they didn't think Duran won, at least on the ESPN Classic copy I have of it.I have it on tape and if you have a copy of it look at the two fighters at the end of the fight. Ray looks spent and Duran looks fresh. As far as commentators go.. turn the volume down and really watch the fight....a shut out for Duran..only because Ray tried ...with no luck to brawl with Roberto. Anyway they were great fights back then. Duran and Leonard both among the very best in their primes. One of my favorite fights is when Duran beat Iran Barkley for the middleweight title just after Barkley ko ed Hearns...and Ray when he narrowly(must of watched that fight 50 times)outsmarted another great fighter, Marvin Hagler. Those were the days!!!!Great fighters.
All right, I need some input here. Somebody tried to tell me Duran quit against Leonard in the rematch because he had to go take a shit. I think Leonard frustrated him to hell, and the bastard just had enough and quit. What happened?
It's that simple. Ray frustrated Duran with speed and just a great display of Ray in his prime. Duran couldn't get to him like the first fight and he just said screw it...well...no mas...but Duran was embarrasssed and frustrated. Credit to Angelo Dundee also for devising ,yet again, a great stategy.
PLAIN excited!I have all these fights on tape and have been meaning to transfer them on to DVD as they are breaking down. I didn't title them very well so I have to hunt for these oldies. Sometimes I stumble on fights I've forgotten and it is a pleasure to relive them. My latest find was Boom Boom Mancini vs Arquello and Arron Pryor vs Alexis Arquello. Still there is great talent out there but in those days these fights were covered by ABC, NBC and CBS seemily making them special and they went fifteen rounds.I don't know if that's for the better or the worse but I love watching them.
Toney............because he has been doing it since Floyd was in diapers.That is absolutely right and when I saw this post James is the first guy that came to mind...who is the REAL heavyweight champ?...James Toney.
"how dare you"? sorry, did i step on a nerve?
not getting affected by punches and not getting hurt in a boxing ring is nothing short of impossible.
gatti takes great shots, doesnt back down, and doesnt go down.
holyfield TOOK great shots, and came back with some of his own.
cotto was hurt by corrley (not exactly mr. dynamite hands) and was this close to being KOd by torres (a very green and at the time, unproven fighter).
now, cotto going up against hatton (one of the most aggressive punchers in over a decade) is simply suicide for cotto. unlike cotto, hatton can take it, shake it off, absorb it, and come right back with more. cotto cant do that. every time he gets tagged with a good shot, he staggers around and needs a few seconds to get his feet back (something holyfield and gatti dont have any trouble doing). cottos fight with torres was a war because torres was hungry and aggressive and cotto was determined and willing. never has holyfield or gatti been as wobbly as cotto was in the 3rd round with corrley or in the entire fight with torres.
comparing two tough warriors with a young boxer who just cant take it as well as dish it out, is flat out insane.
gatti and holyfield "not having the greatest chins". have you even seen them fight?LOL..what are ya about 20 something? Get real. I watched Evander as an amatuer. Seen damn near every Gatti fight...Kid..this recovery thing is a crock...u get hit the right way...it's nighty- night and I don't care who u are.
Everyone wants a piece of Tyson's ability to bring in money. And tyson will definitely show up in the ring to get a few more million to pay his bills off. It is all the boxing fans that still pay for these fights that are the idiots.Amen!!!!!!
First off how dare you argue with someone with twice the ability as you...it is not wise.
Secondly what I said makes perfect...absolutely perfect sense.
Having a great chin means that you arent effected by punches or you dont get hurt...got it?
Gatti was hurt fight after fight after fight, it was his ability to survive and recover that pulled him thru and made him a warrior...not his chin (his heart).
Holyfield is the same way, he was repeatedly hurt against good and mediocre fighters yet he was absolutely brilliant at surviving and working his way right back into the fight.
Saint trust me having a great chin and being able to recover are different (ask Tyson)-James Toney has a great chin, Jorge Castro has a great chin, Jose Luis Castillo has a great chin...Gatti and Holyfield have something entirely different-I hope you can put what I say together.
Be good friend.
Gatti has a weak chin? Nope. I don't care if you have the biggest heart in the world. Science is science...when u get hit right and the brain is smashed off your cranium u go to sleep. I've heard a lot of things said about Gatti...but having a weak chin isn't one of them...until now...old fashioned nonsense.
James Toney
In my mind Toney is already is the champ. Who comes to your mind when u r asked who is the Heavyweight Champ. Chris Bryd? God bless him..a master boxer and I hope he makes some dough but he doesn't spring to my mind as champ. The 325 Russian guy? Hey,there's a match up, Chris Bryd vs the Russian. Chris would outbox this guy all night but I digress, Toney has never been better. He's mentally focused now, a quality he lacked in his youth. So when I'm asked who is the champion of the world only one guy comes to mind...James Toney and he's great for the sport too. Who would have thought ten years ago. Not me!
On Hearns Hagler Leonard and .....Duran
According to HBO it's true Hearns hurt his hand in the 1st rd AND one of his entourage gave him a massage. I would like to see Hearns try to outbox Hagler, he would never win a slugfest with Marvelous.
Hearns wouldn't have beaten Hagler if he had three hands(punching boxing or fighting) and I love Tommy but if you like a guy who just walked away from the sport because of an injustice ,and I watched his(Hagler's) carrer from an amatuer to the Leonard debate , you have to love the marvellous one.
I will say this for Hearns ...even with his suspect chin...ya gotta love the VERY accomplished skills he had. As for Ray he was great early. I just watched some footage on his first title against Wilfredo B. and others. Anyway three great fighters in a great era....did I forget Roberto Duran? Oh my!!(I still believe that Roberto took a dive against Hearns..who knows why...$$$$$$$$!!!)
HBO defined Roy's career. He was nothing more then a gimmick...a circus act.
Some act..a gold medal(in reality) a great athlete,a excellent fighter with wins over GREAT fighters (no matter how YOU want to rationalize them).He's done now though but
he his day he was THE guy. Are u new to boxing? or........just stupid.