Best MW Champion since Marvin Hagler?

[IronDanHamza]

I'm not as big of a Toney fan as others, but I will write this: I've always felt his fight against Barkley was one of the few examples of pure greatness I have ever witnessed. Other's include Nas's 'New York State of Mind, and Greg Maddux's August '95 2-hit Maddux of the St Louis Cardinals, etc, etc.

What's so great about dominating a past prime Iran Barkley?

Who even at his best was a dead average fighter.

[IronDanHamza]

Well said. I'm not sure GGG could have beaten Nunn or McCallum...but he damn sure wouldn't have lost to Dave Tiberi (or needed to be bailed out on the cards when he did). And therein lies the problem with Toney. His best wins were against such good fighters that he gets excused for atrocious stuff like that and Thadzi too easily.

Golovkin would destroy Micheal Nunn. There's no way he doesn't stop him within the distance.

Mike McCallum is a different story but IMO Toney didn't beat McCallum either time at MW.

[crold1]

Golovkin would destroy Micheal Nunn. There's no way he doesn't stop him within the distance.

Mike McCallum is a different story but IMO Toney didn't beat McCallum either time at MW.

I don't know if he'd destroy him. No one ever did. Can certainly see G winning, particularly if Nunn fought the way he did against Barkley. Could also see Nunn using his speed and range and getting in good work. It was a more talented era IMO than what GGG competed in...but GGG dog walked it for the most part the way an elite would.

[IronDanHamza]

I don't know if he'd destroy him. No one ever did. Can certainly see G winning, particularly if Nunn fought the way he did against Barkley. Could also see Nunn using his speed and range and getting in good work. It was a more talented era IMO than what GGG competed in...but GGG dog walked it for the most part the way an elite would.

Micheal Nunn is one of the most overrated fighters I've ever seen in my life.

He has a small handful of decent wins in what was an incredibly lack luster career.

Golovkin would beat him up badly.

[DeeMoney]

What's so great about dominating a past prime Iran Barkley?

Who even at his best was a dead average fighter.

For certain there are many greater wins on other fighters resumes than Iran Barkley. But the level of skill displayed by Toney in that single fight was a thing of beauty.

[tokon]

Well said. I'm not sure GGG could have beaten Nunn or McCallum...but he damn sure wouldn't have lost to Dave Tiberi (or needed to be bailed out on the cards when he did). And therein lies the problem with Toney. His best wins were against such good fighters that he gets excused for atrocious stuff like that and Thadzi too easily.

Good points re Toney, whose laziness and indiscipline was as obvious as his natural talent.

[markusmod]

- - Canelo pro debut just after turning 15 stands 5-8. Jr 6-1 actually turned pro age 17 @130, a stick weight that he never matched from that point forward.

He was in the 140s age 19 when Canelo turned pro, and like James Toney, he ate himself out of every division he was in. Canelo more disciplined carefully worked his weight up through the divisions never blew up like Jr in between fights, but Jr a natural cruiser whereas Canelo been strength training to make LH that Jr struggles with using extreme dieting.

Ive seen Chavez Jr. up close. He's a pretty big kid.

[IronDanHamza]

For certain there are many greater wins on other fighters resumes than Iran Barkley. But the level of skill displayed by Toney in that single fight was a thing of beauty.

He only showed skill anywhere near that level when facing past prime average fighters like Barkley.

He never showed that level of skill against any top level fighter and instead failed to beat a single top fighter in clear or dominant fashion.

Plenty of fighters looked great against Barkley.

Including Adolpho Washington who totally schooled him and stopped him in 6 rounds in the exact same year as Toney fought Barkely.

Does Washington get the same credit for such “skill”? He did the exact same thing.

[markusmod]

Yes definitely, in that order.

Yes, sir!

[Noelanthony]

I would have to say GGG even though i am not a fan of his but with his iron chin and work rate he will be in any fight. We talk of Canelo being amazing but GGG has a argument for winning both fights against Canelo(he definitely won the first) Having said that any good fighter GGG Fought he made hard work of it .Danny Jacobs comes to mind and Danny doesn't even have a solid chin.