James Toney's undefeated streak

[Fox McCloud]

Was it a concern that he had so many close calls?

6th fight: SD over 1-0 Arthur Willis.
21st fight: Draw with 24-11 Sanderline Williams.
25th fight: SD over 18-0 Merqui Sosa.
27th fight: 11th round TKO over 36-0 Michael Nunn when he was behind so far on the scorecards that he would need a knockout.
28th fight: SD over 29-1-1 Reggie Johnson.
30th fight: Draw with 42-1 Mike McCallum.
31st fight: SD over 22-2-3 Dave Tiberi.
34th fight: MD over 43-1-1 Mike McCallum.

I mean, he had good opposition in these close calls, except for Willis, Williams and Tiberi, but still... was it not a concern for the Jones Jr. fight that Toney had barely escaped defeat so many times?

[-Antonio-]

Nah because Nunn and McCallum were very good Middleweights, and Toney always fought to the level of his opponent. Reggie Johnson actually rocked Toney, but Toney won the fight imo.

[Thread Stealer]

it was, but people thought he was better at 168 at the time as he hadn't been as inconsistent and having close fights. then roy beat him.

[Orange Sneakers]

People forget that Barkley was a big favourite to win their fight...

Toney in the Barkley, Thomas, Thornton, Tim Littles fights was a totally different level to the weight-starved 160lb version

[K-Nan]

Nah because Nunn and McCallum were very good Middleweights, and Toney always fought to the level of his opponent. Reggie Johnson actually rocked Toney, but Toney won the fight imo.

The bolded is absolutely true. He fell into lulls alot, and needed to be woken up by something. When he was down against Nunn, that woke him up. When he was cut against Littles- that woke him the HELL up...

[Thread Stealer]

The bolded is absolutely true. He fell into lulls alot, and needed to be woken up by something. When he was down against Nunn, that woke him up. When he was cut against Littles- that woke him the HELL up...

Toney tended to do that, but Toney was beating Littles anyway though. He got cut with a clash of heads at the end of the 3rd after he hurt and dropped Littles.

Then he finished the job in the 4th with the bad cut over his eye.

[K-Nan]

Toney tended to do that, but Toney was beating Littles anyway though. He got cut with a clash of heads at the end of the 3rd after he hurt and dropped Littles.

Then he finished the job in the 4th with the bad cut over his eye.

I know what he was doing.

But you also know that as soon as he opened up, Littles was completely overwhelmed. Before this, Toney had been content with getting off in spots and staying ahead. But from the way he just instantly took him out when he was motivated- it makes you think that he could have KO'd Littles in 1.

[Orange Sneakers]

Sanderline Williams was a very sneaky, crafty fighter who had so many tricks up his sleeve. He was apparently a really good amateur but once he lost a few pro fights the only training he did was sparring and he never had a training camp for any fight, he was just there to make life as difficult as possible for the hot prospect and often got well paid by Bob Arum

He gave Benn, McClellan, Barkley and Toney very difficult fights because they were all egotisticly looking to take him out

[Orange Sneakers]

You had to box Sanderline...

[TheGreatA]

Toney himself said he couldn't work as much as he wanted to during fights because he had to drain himself to make 160.

When he went up in weight to 168 and destroyed Iran Barkley he looked unbeatable but had to drain himself again to make weight for RJJ and was made to look like an idiot.