James Toney vs. Iran Barkley...

[Brunswick Assassin]

Toney was fat and out of shape against Jirov and subseqently needed to take more breaks than he would have had to if he was fighting at 168.

Fat and out of shape??? Toney weighed in 190lbs for Jirov and under 190lbs for Robinson fight.

[Dan...]

Fat and out of shape??? Toney weighed in 190lbs for Jirov and under 190lbs for Robinson fight.

Ok, may have gone a bit far there. The point I am trying to make is that James fighting at cruiser or heavy needed a lot more "rest breaks" than the version of Toney that fought at 168 against Barkley.

Against Calzaghe, a prime SMW Toney would not need to take those breaks and therefore Joe would have a harder time overwhelming him with his volume. Say you were to supplant James' workrate with the one he had at cruiser - he would need a far greater number of rest periods and thus Joe would be more effective.

This is the logic behind my viewpoint that a prime Toney beats a prime Calzaghe at 168.

[Brunswick Assassin]

Ok, may have gone a bit far there. The point I am trying to make is that James fighting at cruiser or heavy needed a lot more "rest breaks" than the version of Toney that fought at 168 against Barkley.

Against Calzaghe, a prime SMW Toney would not need to take those breaks and therefore Joe would have a harder time overwhelming him with his volume. Say you were to supplant James' workrate with the one he had at cruiser - he would need a far greater number of rest periods and thus Joe would be more effective.

This is the logic behind my viewpoint that a prime Toney beats a prime Calzaghe at 168.

Fair post! Don't underestimate Toney's workrate at Heavy or Cruiser. Toney's hands were very busy against Robinson, Jirov and Holyfield. Toney weighed at 217lbs and was letting his hands go like he was at SMW and bouncing around on his toes.

Calzaghe v Toney at SMW or LHW would have been an easy night for Toney. People shouldn't be fooled into thinking Calzaghe's some ATG when he's waited for Hopkins and RJJ who are past their primes since 1990s and early 2000's to fight them now.

He defended his WBO Title against 'no-hopers' in Wales and really kept quiet when both RJJ and B-Hop were undisputed Champions. Now Calzaghe's running his mouth when these two are at the twilight of their careers. Come on Joe, don't take us for a ride!

If Calzaghe fought both RJJ and B-Hop in early 2000's he would have been KOd in first round from both when he was dropped by them and got back off the canvas and won.

Dawson v Calzaghe would be a good fight but Dawson is too young, strong and hits too hard for Calzaghe to fight.

[Silencers]

That was Toney's best performance, Barkley's style was tailor made for him though.

[mspiegelo]

He landed over 400 punches.

http://www.compuboxonline.com/recordbook.php

Toney also landed over 400 punches against Prince Charles Williams... then somehow ended up running out of gas completely against Roy Jones after throwing 350.

Hes was inconsistent but brilliant at his best.

toney was also completely weight drained against roy. he had to go on an i.v. after the weigh in and stay on it until just before the fight.

and yes, i think James Toney was a better fighter AND a better super middleweight than Calzaghe in his prime at 168.