Why did James Toney and Bernard Hopkins never fight?

[JAB5239]

Most other experts think Toney would have no problems beating Hopkins. No major ones anyway. Toney is just a league above the Rabbitpuncher.

Just out of curiosity, what experts are you speaking of? I've never really heard this fight discussed by anyone outside of message boards.

[Pastrano]

Just out of curiosity, what experts are you speaking of? I've never really heard this fight discussed by anyone outside of message boards.

Just people I've spoken to. NOT HERE.

[Toney616]

Just out of curiosity, what experts are you speaking of? I've never really heard this fight discussed by anyone outside of message boards.

Toney, Hopkins Set to Fight?
Barring snags, the two boxers will go at it in August at a site to be determined.
May 21, 2003|Steve Springer | Times Staff Writer

An agreement in principle has been reached for James Toney to defend his International Boxing Federation cruiserweight title in August against Bernard Hopkins, according to Dan Goossen, Toney's promoter.

But since the other promoter is Don King, and previous negotiations with Hopkins have been known to bog down over all sorts of matters, nothing will be certain until the signatures are on the contract.

http://articles.latimes.com/2003/may/21/sports/sp-boxing21

Toney-Hopkins fight disintegrates
By Dan Rafael, USA TODAY
An Aug. 9 fight between cruiserweight champ James Toney and undisputed middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins, who planned to challenge a man 30 pounds bigger, was called off Tuesday night. HBO PPV pulled the plug because promoter Don King could not deliver Hopkins' services.

King had agreed to pay Hopkins $3.5 million but when he couldn't convince HBO PPV and host site Mandalay Bay to increase the guarantees, King wanted to shave at least $500,000 from Hopkins' purse. Hopkins refused a cut. "It comes down to a fight between Don and Bernard," said Toney promoter Dan Goossen. "We stepped to the plate. We did everything we said we were going to do. We had no problem accepting the terms even though they were in Bernard's favor."

Toney, who was to earn $2.5 million, will explore other fights, Goossen said. "I don't think the timing is right for any rescheduling. We won't wait for Hopkins. We've got to move on and fight people who want to fight."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2003-06-10-no-toney-hopkins_x.htm

Check out the difference in purses. As I said before Toney agreed to all of Hopkins demands even the larger purse split. Toney would of been the draw in that fight, not Hopkins who has never been a draw

[JAB5239]

http://articles.latimes.com/2003/may...ts/sp-boxing21

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2003-06-10-no-toney-hopkins_x.htm

Check out the difference in purses. As I said before Toney agreed to all of Hopkins demands even the larger purse split. Toney would of been the draw in that fight, not Hopkins who has never been a draw

I remember the fight being discussed, I just don't remember any experts weighing in with opinions on who would have won.

[IMDAZED]

When they were both at 160, Hopkins wasn't quite on Toney's level and wasn't worthy of a title shot, although he thought he was. There's an old story of Bernard once showing up during one of James' post-fight pressers and calling him out, only for Toney to respond by leaping over the press table and chasing him out of the arena.

When Hopkins was with King and Toney was was the cruiser champ, there were serious negotiations that ended when Hopkins pulled out, citing purse issues. Hopkins hated the contract he was pretty much forced to sign with King and priced himself out of every big fight (Jones, the Showtime contract that included a Calzaghe bout, and Toney) because he felt he wasn't getting enough after King took his share. I don't think he was really avoiding any of those fighters, Bernard has always been a maverick. This is a guy who testified in court and dropped names like Butch Lewis and King when he spoke about the corruption in the sport. Anyway, following the Trinidad bout, the rift between King and Bernard led to few meaningful fights, causing King to say that Hopkins "is like the guy who wins the lotto and loses the ticket." But he got the last laugh when Oscar De La Hoya came calling out of the blue with a $10m fight and an offer to come onboard as a Golden Boy exec.

[Scott9945]

Just people I've spoken to. NOT HERE.

You are so totally full of ****.

[Toney616]

I remember the fight being discussed, I just don't remember any experts weighing in with opinions on who would have won.

Cool my mistake.

I have never come across any experts weighing in on who they thought would win the fight. Maybe they were waiting for it to be a done deal, never easy when the name Hopkins is involved

My opinion I think Toney wins that fight. More skilled and the naturally bigger man. I'm sure cw Toney hits just as hard as Segundo Mercado as well.

[Toney616]

We getting all Dirty Harry here. Even Steward said Hopkins was always a natural lhw. I rest my case. Maybe youre just a Bhophugger.

If he was a natural light heavy than he would have had problems making the middleweight limit the vast majority of his career.

And yeah, we're getting all dirty Harry here, so don't push it.

lmao

[Toney616]

interesting information.

I think Toney would have beaten Hopkins, personally. Well, this is assuming an inshape and prime Toney, not the weight drained shell that showed up sometimes.

To the best of my knowledge Toney never really struggled to make the weight at cw. He also would of been motivated to train hard seeing as how he dislikes Hopkins so much.

I'm also of the opinion that he beats Hopkins. Toney has held his own against McCallum *2 who was a way better fighter than Hopkins imo.

[IMDAZED]

Cool my mistake.

I have never come across any experts weighing in on who they thought would win the fight. Maybe they were waiting for it to be a done deal, never easy when the name Hopkins is involved

My opinion I think Toney wins that fight. More skilled and the naturally bigger man. I'm sure cw Toney hits just as hard as Segundo Mercado as well.

No way Hopkins beats that roided version of Toney. He was a monster at 190.