The Toney Jirov fight... lets remember these great fights

[billeau2]

Ahh when boxing gets it right! Steve Smolger in the ring, one of the very best, the take no prisoners Vassily Jirov against the master craftsman James Toney. How Toney sets his counters up, his tactics, when he pours it on... a true master class. James was inconsistent, but at his best he was fantastic. He was a scowling, menacing, talented fighter who loved to fight. A true throwback to when men were men and knew what bathroom to use.

This was a fantastic fight. Steve S never interfered when two fighters came a guns blazing. This fight reminded me of why, despite his inconsistency I consider Toney one of the best. I do so with the caveat that by traditional criteria we cannot put him on any short list.

With that said? I would pick james T Lights out, on a good day to beat a lot of fighters with better stats, like he did with the admittedly shopworn Holyfield.

On a technical level, watch his shoulder movements, his angles, how he times his counters... and his ability to stay relaxed at all times.

[Anthony342]

Ahh when boxing gets it right! Steve Smolger in the ring, one of the very best, the take no prisoners Vassily Jirov against the master craftsman James Toney. How Toney sets his counters up, his tactics, when he pours it on... a true master class. James was inconsistent, but at his best he was fantastic. He was a scowling, menacing, talented fighter who loved to fight. A true throwback to when men were men and knew what bathroom to use.

This was a fantastic fight. Steve S never interfered when two fighters came a guns blazing. This fight reminded me of why, despite his inconsistency I consider Toney one of the best. I do so with the caveat that by traditional criteria we cannot put him on any short list.

With that said? I would pick james T Lights out, on a good day to beat a lot of fighters with better stats, like he did with the admittedly shopworn Holyfield.

On a technical level, watch his shoulder movements, his angles, how he times his counters... and his ability to stay relaxed at all times.

Uh oh, you mentioned Toney. You know what that means. You'll most assuredly summon Iron Dan now. He don't like Toney.

[IronDanHamza]

Toney’s best attribute from a aesthetic standpoint was the fact he never clinched, I never saw him hold once.

He could have made that fight a lot easier than he did by holding, buying time, shutting the pace down. He was quite clearly the better boxer of the two, yet he went to war and came out on top in a back and forth battle as the smaller man to win. The fight was competitive but unlike Toney’s other fights against top level fighters there was only one winner.

Jirov was an average pro, but, he was also the favourite in that fight, the bigger man, the harder puncher etc, on paper Toney was there to lose so similarly to Calzaghe-Lacy you have to give credit there.

And, for the fans, it was a great fight. I didn’t expect Toney to win it.

[IronDanHamza]

Uh oh, you mentioned Toney. You know what that means. You'll most assuredly summon Iron Dan now. He don't like Toney.

Look at this bitch You done crying yet, you little baby?

Why do you come on here? Genuinely, why? You know nothing at all about boxing. You can’t engage in discussions at all, you bring nothing at all to this forum. No insight what so ever.

[QueensburyRules]

- - TwoTon ran Hot/Cold. He was never there to lose. Inconsistency is congenita1…

[billeau2]

Toney’s best attribute from a aesthetic standpoint was the fact he never clinched, I never saw him hold once.

He could have made that fight a lot easier than he did by holding, buying time, shutting the pace down. He was quite clearly the better boxer of the two, yet he went to war and came out on top in a back and forth battle as the smaller man to win. The fight was competitive but unlike Toney’s other fights against top level fighters there was only one winner.

Jirov was an average pro, but, he was also the favourite in that fight, the bigger man, the harder puncher etc, on paper Toney was there to lose so similarly to Calzaghe-Lacy you have to give credit there.

And, for the fans, it was a great fight. I didn’t expect Toney to win it.

They had some monster exchanges! I loved how Jirov trained himself to keep coming and how Toney could look in the eye of the storm and keep timing shots. I loved this fight.

[billeau2]

Uh oh, you mentioned Toney. You know what that means. You'll most assuredly summon Iron Dan now. He don't like Toney.

What do you think about how much having Steve Smolger as the referee helped this fight? As Dan said there was no clinching, yet I can't help but think there are refs that would have found ways to insert themselves in the action lol. Even the judges got it right.

[_Rexy_]

One of my favorite fights. I watch it once a year or so.

[kara]

One of my favorite fights. I watch it once a year or so.

I always remember Manny going crazy in the final round during the HBO broadcast

[_Rexy_]

I always remember Manny going crazy in the final round during the HBO broadcast

The entire broadcast team turned into fans in that last round. It was awesome