what if: James Toney vs. Joe Calzaghe @ 168 (Prime for prime)

[pesticid]

Fact is that you are biased and pro Calzaghe. Thats fine, but you can't have an argument with someone that picks the worse fights of someone's career and starts to complain about it. According to your logic, Foreman should have beaten Jimmy Young because young lost to Cooney as well as lesser oppoents. Young was never a champion and was considered an ''average'' fighter back in the late 60s-late 80s. So, is Foreman not an all time great? He was not mentally prepared for that fight, just Toney wasn't in those fights nor was he in shape.

Like I said, I don't even like Zaghe, I like Kessler better. Calzaghe's the **** though. Toney and Duran are my favourites and I am pretty objective here.

Roy Jones in his prime beats Zaghe, or at least I think so, James doesn't. I hate fantasy match-ups and I usually don't get involved, but since I've been following James's career for over 13 years I know what I am talking about.

[IMDAZED]

Toney's biggest victories:

Michale Nunn
Iran Barkley
Reggie Johnson
Mike McCallum
Vasiliy Jirov
Evander Holyfield

Toney's biggest losses:
Dave Tibery (SD victory for Toney but watch the fight and tell me Toney didn't get beat up badly)
Roy Jones
Montel Griffin
Drake Thadzi

Somehow, I get the feeling this post makes a point you weren't shooting for...

[pesticid]

Somehow, I get the feeling this post makes a point you weren't shooting for...

On the contrary,

Most fights were pretty close with the exception of Iran Barkley and Holyfield.

[slicksouthpaw16]

I'd recommend watching the Kessler fight, whom is another underated fighter. He gave Joe a tough fight, and many believe would give a good fight and even beat Hops, Johnson and the likes. Joe looked very good in that fight. Not as good as against Lacy whom was supposed to be the next best thing, but hey he's still no. 5 SMW so that's pretty up there still to, and he was seriously schooled in an exhibition esk display.

I haven't heard about any of these things. Calzaghe had food poisoning?

Also, I have seen the Kessler fight a dozen times and it was a brilliant performance. Fact of the matter is that Toney makes Kessler look like an average fighter because Kessler is a straight up European fighter. He is not elusive and one dimensional. He only goes straight back and forward and was very predictable. Toney was very loose, very hard counter puncher, brilliant defensively, quick hands and had very good inside game. ANY skilled counter puncher would have a field day with timing those wide looping shots from Calzaghe and taking advantage of his horrible balance after he throws. Thats why he hasn't fought any when he was in his prime and Hopkins was the first good counter puncher that he has faced. Toney would lour Calzaghe into his rope-a-dope when hes on the ropes and thats where Toney lives, its also the place where Calzaghe starts to throw his amateur punches. Toney would counter with harder, crisper and more effective punches.

[pesticid]

Toney was losing on the cards against Nunn but knocked him out in the 11the. In the first 7,8 rounds though he was peppered with flush shots.

[IMDAZED]

On the contrary,

Most fights were pretty close with the exception of Iran Barkley and Holyfield.

There have been far more close bouts between elite fighters than one-sided ones. I fail to see what point you're trying to make.

[IMDAZED]

Toney was losing on the cards against Nunn but knocked him out in the 11the. In the first 7,8 rounds though he was peppered with flush shots.

That's certainly one way to look at it. But you're overlooking rounds 7 (that's where it began) up until the KO. Rounds Toney swept...and then he flat knocked Nunn the **** out. I mean...what point are you trying to make?

[slicksouthpaw16]

Toney's biggest victories:

Michale Nunn
Iran Barkley
Reggie Johnson
Mike McCallum
Vasiliy Jirov
Evander Holyfield
i

Compare those wins with Calzaghe's biggest wins and thats my point. End of discussion.

[pesticid]

That's certainly one way to look at it. But you're overlooking rounds 7 (that's where it began) up until the KO. Rounds Toney swept...and then he flat knocked Nunn the **** out. I mean...what point are you trying to make?

I am trying to make a point that James's defense is not what it's claimed to be. Zaghe will have no trouble landing punches. Also showing that in his defining fights, he's squeezed by. He's also lost quite a few, where he was beaten or outboxed badly. Zaghe's never lost, even when he had bad nights he still came victorious.

[pesticid]

Calzaghe's top victories:

Eubank
Kessler
Lacy
Hopkins

No losses