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The idea that a little guy who's basically "one of us" going up against a much bigger opponent and defeating them with skill alone is an appealing notion. Sure, Roy did it and Hopkins says he wants to do it - but both only had plans for a one-off special against limited opponents, Toney was prepared to go all the way.
And for a time, I believed he could do it... maybe.
It has to be said that it doesn't just appear to be his size that's let him down. If you look at the speed, reflexes and speech of Toney against Holyfield compared to last weekend it's like a completely different person. The guy's been hit harder than he's ever been hit before (which makes it bizarre when people say he's unknockoutable... how do we know when the most he'd been hit with before was a cruiserweight punch?) and it does seem to have caught up with him.
If you look at the guys Toney beat... Guinn, Holyfield, Ruiz... none of them were particularly big hitters, and none of them had a sizeable reach advantage, or one that he couldn't nullify. Sure, his skills before they erroded could have dealt with some opposition - Hell, he beat Peter the first time, right? - but there always would have been a step too far. Toney could have all the skill in the world, but expecting a 5"9 man with no KO power at the weight to beat giants like Little Klit or even Valuev is a step too far. It actually shows how the division has slightly improved, in that when Toney first came onto the scene there were titlists he could conceivably beat.
Toney just simply wasn't a heavyweight, and being able to outpoint an old Holyfield or an average Ruiz was never going to change that. But for a time, it looked as if it could, and it was a nice, pleasant dream.
So... anyone want flied lice?
And for a time, I believed he could do it... maybe.
It has to be said that it doesn't just appear to be his size that's let him down. If you look at the speed, reflexes and speech of Toney against Holyfield compared to last weekend it's like a completely different person. The guy's been hit harder than he's ever been hit before (which makes it bizarre when people say he's unknockoutable... how do we know when the most he'd been hit with before was a cruiserweight punch?) and it does seem to have caught up with him.
If you look at the guys Toney beat... Guinn, Holyfield, Ruiz... none of them were particularly big hitters, and none of them had a sizeable reach advantage, or one that he couldn't nullify. Sure, his skills before they erroded could have dealt with some opposition - Hell, he beat Peter the first time, right? - but there always would have been a step too far. Toney could have all the skill in the world, but expecting a 5"9 man with no KO power at the weight to beat giants like Little Klit or even Valuev is a step too far. It actually shows how the division has slightly improved, in that when Toney first came onto the scene there were titlists he could conceivably beat.
Toney just simply wasn't a heavyweight, and being able to outpoint an old Holyfield or an average Ruiz was never going to change that. But for a time, it looked as if it could, and it was a nice, pleasant dream.
So... anyone want flied lice?
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