Pugilistic Poetry: Barkley vs Toney

[IronDanHamza]

So you don't agree that Toney was pugilistic poetry, then, right?

It's fine if you don't. We all have our guys that we dislike and think are overrated. Toney just clearly happens to be one of yours.

He was at times yeah. Against certain opposition.

Very rarely, if ever, against a top opponent.

[The Old LefHook]

Danny is not slamming thug Toney, he is merely pointing out that most elite boxers are poetry against ham & eggers. A Barkley who was not great in the first place as a shot fighter is not far above a ham & egger. He took some awful punches in the eleven years before he fought ol' thug Toney. Mosley looked pretty spectacular against a prime Shannan Taylor. People were saying he would be one of the greatest of all time. Even papa Smurf was taken in. Of course, a welterweight Toney would destroy Mosley, I do not mean to insinuate otherwise with the comparison.

[billeau2]

The real significance to controlling Barkley is not necessarily how hard this task was technically. 90% of the time, or so, the guy you knew in your hood as the supreme badazz would get handled in the ring and...lets face it being a great fighter one could come from baddazzery, or just as easily not, didn't matter in the ring. Mike Tyson had a voice like a pipsqueak and looked small! Didn't want any of that! just ask badaxx Mitch, my eye is hanging out Green.

Barkley was, by comparison, an incredible character who basically held dominion over parts of the South Bronx through sheer violent actions and image. which is kind of like being the best French Chef in Paris! because in those days the South Bronx was a great place to learn how it feels to get the piss beat from ya! And Barkley was a teacher! The dude was a certifiable Badazz of the highest calibre, gang leader, sociopath extraordinaire...and Barkley who never found a technical approach he didn't despise, made it the same way in the ring. His attributes, like the pip squeak Iron Mike... made the guy across wonder if he would be washing underwear later that evening.

Barkley scared people, he hit hard and made even the best technical guys usually pay for sharing the same real estate for 12-15 rounds. You could hit Aen for sure...It just made him happier. We were discussing Fuilmore before... fullmore looked scary but while Fullmore played rough, Barkley had a pathological desire to destroy people, bad intentions? barkley became a Buddhist so, after he beat on you to death he could help you come back and get beat on some more! The guy seemed not to care if he had to take shots to give and his talent was knowing that when he gave, he gave generously!

Toney managed to really exert some control over Barkley. Toney actually seemed legitametly not intimidated by Barkley...the man who ran the biggest meanest gang in the housing projects and could best be summed up by Richard Pryr's brilliant description of another shark, George Foreman who said (Pryer imitating george said...) after walking in the ring..."which one the referee? good cause im gonna kill the other muda fuxca!" could not shake james....

Thats where I would agree poetry was that night. Toney affimed that ultimately the tehnician can control the brawler.

[IronDanHamza]

The real significance to controlling Barkley is not necessarily how hard this task was technically. 90% of the time, or so, the guy you knew in your hood as the supreme badazz would get handled in the ring and...lets face it being a great fighter one could come from baddazzery, or just as easily not, didn't matter in the ring. Mike Tyson had a voice like a pipsqueak and looked small! Didn't want any of that! just ask badaxx Mitch, my eye is hanging out Green.

Barkley was, by comparison, an incredible character who basically held dominion over parts of the South Bronx through sheer violent actions and image. which is kind of like being the best French Chef in Paris! because in those days the South Bronx was a great place to learn how it feels to get the piss beat from ya! And Barkley was a teacher! The dude was a certifiable Badazz of the highest calibre, gang leader, sociopath extraordinaire...and Barkley who never found a technical approach he didn't despise, made it the same way in the ring. His attributes, like the pip squeak Iron Mike... made the guy across wonder if he would be washing underwear later that evening.

Barkley scared people, he hit hard and made even the best technical guys usually pay for sharing the same real estate for 12-15 rounds. You could hit Aen for sure...It just made him happier. We were discussing Fuilmore before... fullmore looked scary but while Fullmore played rough, Barkley had a pathological desire to destroy people, bad intentions? barkley became a Buddhist so, after he beat on you to death he could help you come back and get beat on some more! The guy seemed not to care if he had to take shots to give and his talent was knowing that when he gave, he gave generously!

Toney managed to really exert some control over Barkley. Toney actually seemed legitametly not intimidated by Barkley...the man who ran the biggest meanest gang in the housing projects and could best be summed up by Richard Pryr's brilliant description of another shark, George Foreman who said (Pryer imitating george said...) after walking in the ring..."which one the referee? good cause im gonna kill the other muda fuxca!" could not shake james....

Thats where I would agree poetry was that night. Toney affimed that ultimately the tehnician can control the brawler.

That was a nice attempt at hyping up Barkley but here in reality Barkley was a decent fighter at best and by the time Toney fought him he was a passed it decent fighter at best.

I don't think Nigel Benn was "intimidated" by Barkley along with quit be a few others.

Toney dominating him is nothing to shout about.

[djtmal]

Toney put some sport on Barkley. Nuff said.

I don't care what nobody says, Barkley always has a punchers chance, and James was brilliant in that fight.

[billeau2]

Toney put some sport on Barkley. Nuff said.

I don't care what nobody says, Barkley always has a punchers chance, and James was brilliant in that fight.

Yes. It comes down to whether people think that is significant, or not. This might be of interest to some... Todd Herring was a heavyweight out of Houston in the 60's. A journalist grew up with Herring and told of how terrifying he was. Apparently Herring was a monster! He knocked kids down, he was 6 feet plus (big at that time) etc etc.

We are all familiar with Cleveland the Cat Williams. A smiling very talented heavyweight. He made Todd Herring look like a kitty cat. The fight lasted maybe 5 rounds. One would never imagine that the guy so easily handled was so easily dealt with. I watched that fight and you could not really see any elements to suggest that Herring was a ****er...it didn't translate into anything more than a mediocre fighter giving the Cat some rounds.

Barkley's genius to me was that he was able to carry that presence into the ring. It was part of his style and he made it work. paulie M gave a great account of what it is like to face a puncher, knowing that a false move or two could land you in trouble. Facing a guy like Barkley who hit as hard as he did, with the presence he had, you saw a lot of fighters try to avoid him to a fault... Toney had the presence of mind to stay right where he needed to be and make his shots count.

I understand some may feel this is par for the game, so be it.

[djtmal]

Yes. It comes down to whether people think that is significant, or not. This might be of interest to some... Todd Herring was a heavyweight out of Houston in the 60's. A journalist grew up with Herring and told of how terrifying he was. Apparently Herring was a monster! He knocked kids down, he was 6 feet plus (big at that time) etc etc.

We are all familiar with Cleveland the Cat Williams. A smiling very talented heavyweight. He made Todd Herring look like a kitty cat. The fight lasted maybe 5 rounds. One would never imagine that the guy so easily handled was so easily dealt with. I watched that fight and you could not really see any elements to suggest that Herring was a ****er...it didn't translate into anything more than a mediocre fighter giving the Cat some rounds.

Barkley's genius to me was that he was able to carry that presence into the ring. It was part of his style and he made it work. paulie M gave a great account of what it is like to face a puncher, knowing that a false move or two could land you in trouble. Facing a guy like Barkley who hit as hard as he did, with the presence he had, you saw a lot of fighters try to avoid him to a fault... Toney had the presence of mind to stay right where he needed to be and make his shots count.

I understand some may feel this is par for the game, so be it.

It was definitely a significant fight imo. It was James stepping up from 160 to fight a bigger fighter on paper @ 168. Barkley had the IBF belt as well.

[billeau2]

It was definitely a significant fight imo. It was James stepping up from 160 to fight a bigger fighter on paper @ 168. Barkley had the IBF belt as well.

Toney would become quite willing to fight above his weight class lol. He would keep those heavyweights honest in the years to come!

[phallus]

That was a nice attempt at hyping up Barkley but here in reality Barkley was a decent fighter at best and by the time Toney fought him he was a passed it decent fighter at best.

I don't think Nigel Benn was "intimidated" by Barkley along with quit be a few others.

Toney dominating him is nothing to shout about.

nigel benn wasn't afraid of anybody, he kept asking roy jones for a fight after he won the 168 belt. I love nigel benn but roy is a bad, bad match for him

Yes. It comes down to whether people think that is significant, or not. This might be of interest to some... Todd Herring was a heavyweight out of Houston in the 60's. A journalist grew up with Herring and told of how terrifying he was. Apparently Herring was a monster! He knocked kids down, he was 6 feet plus (big at that time) etc etc.

We are all familiar with Cleveland the Cat Williams. A smiling very talented heavyweight. He made Todd Herring look like a kitty cat. The fight lasted maybe 5 rounds. One would never imagine that the guy so easily handled was so easily dealt with. I watched that fight and you could not really see any elements to suggest that Herring was a ****er...it didn't translate into anything more than a mediocre fighter giving the Cat some rounds.

Barkley's genius to me was that he was able to carry that presence into the ring. It was part of his style and he made it work. paulie M gave a great account of what it is like to face a puncher, knowing that a false move or two could land you in trouble. Facing a guy like Barkley who hit as hard as he did, with the presence he had, you saw a lot of fighters try to avoid him to a fault... Toney had the presence of mind to stay right where he needed to be and make his shots count.

I understand some may feel this is par for the game, so be it.

barkley was like a less skilled G-man. when mclellan stepped in the ring he had an evil look in his eyes

[HandsofIron]

Barkley was washed-up and past it when he fought Toney.