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1. Toney's weakness on the inside:
Toney is a genius counterpuncher on the inside. Sometimes he seems to have radar in both gloves the way he connects so cleanly from just about any given angle he may be in in a fight. However he lacks one very important element of an inside fighter's game and that is strength. Some of the greatest infighters of all time such as Fullmer, LaMotta, and Basilio all had incredible strength for their size. Even today a guy like Castillo has insane strength. Toney on the other hand is physically one of the weakest heavyweights in the top ten of the division. He was easily manhandled by Rahman and easily shoved around by Ruiz. I don't care how relaxed you are, if a stronger man is pushing, leaning and tugging on you all night it saps the strength in your arms and legs slows you down.
Toney slowed down noticeably against Rahman because of this and IMO Wladimir is an even stronger man that Rahman. To my estimation, Wladimir is one of the stronger heavyweights we've seen in the last ten years (look at how he tied up Samuel Peter). No matter how good Toney is on the inside, his lack of strength will always come back to bite him when the other guy ties him up and makes it into a wrestling match. Wladimir knows this and will take advantage of this when the fight goes to close quarters.
2. Toney did not like the jab!
Hasim Rahman showed us just how Toney reacts to the jab, doubling it up at times and snapping his head back. This punch kept him off through a good portion of some of the middle rounds. Ruiz also landed the jab with some success at points in their fight. Wladimir has a better jab than either man and will stay on the outside with it.
3. The hook.
Hasim Rahman, despite being known for having a completely mediocre hook, used it effectively last night and tagged Toney with it more often than the right hand. Wladimir has a short, very speed, hook on the inside which he used to great effect against Derrick Jefferson and against Sam Peter late in their fight.
4. The straight right.
When Rahman did throw a half decent straight right early in the fight, he caught Toney with it and moved him back. Ruiz hit Toney with some nice rights in their fight but lacks as serious punch. Rahman has a good right hand but he did not want to throw it much, most likely in fear of getting countered by Toney's hook. Wladimir has IMO the best right hand in the division and he usually sets it up with the jab. He will throw it from long distance after finding his range with the jab (and snapping Toney's head into place) and not have to worry about being countered.
5. 6'7" vs. 5'9"
Wladimir's height is a HUGE advantage, and don't listen to anyone who says otherwise. When Rahman stayed at long range he had great success. His jab had Toney off balance and missing with looping right hands that made him look rather foolish at times. Wladimir is so tall and rangy, and better than using his size than Rahman, that Toney won't have as many moments to even get to the inside (where he will be met with a friendly Ukrainian hug and lots of mauling).
6. Toney can't hurt Wladimir.
Hasim Rahman has a shaky chin, a very shaky chin. In fact, I'm not so sure Wladimir's chin is any worse. The problem for Toney is that in spite of a high percentage of landed (flush) shots, he never had Rahman in serious trouble. If he can't hurt Rahman, what makes anyone think he can hurt Wladimir? If he can't hurt Wladimir, we can expect to see Wlad set himself and really punch with his best efforts, something he rarely did with Samuel Peter.
I could probably go on but my stomach is rumbling and I want some breakfast. Someone will probably try to point out Toney's so called stamina advantage (a result of his composure while fighting and getting hit) but that will be nullifed by Wlad's strength who will wear him down and make him the weaker man late in the fight.
Also does anyone else remember Toney saying he trained harder and longer for this fight than any other in the recent past? I believe him, but I don't think it will matter. He was in good shape for this fight cardiovascular wise, but he's too old and too weak to look fresh late in the fight. As far as his weight is concerned, he can come in at 215 pounds; he'll just be easier for Wladimir to shove around. Being so much smaller and weaker, Toney always have trouble in the late rounds with these stronger fighters, as long as they use their natural advantages in a constructive way (tying Toney up and wrestling him when he gets inside, and then stepping outside to score with punches when not engaged in a clinch).
Toney is a genius counterpuncher on the inside. Sometimes he seems to have radar in both gloves the way he connects so cleanly from just about any given angle he may be in in a fight. However he lacks one very important element of an inside fighter's game and that is strength. Some of the greatest infighters of all time such as Fullmer, LaMotta, and Basilio all had incredible strength for their size. Even today a guy like Castillo has insane strength. Toney on the other hand is physically one of the weakest heavyweights in the top ten of the division. He was easily manhandled by Rahman and easily shoved around by Ruiz. I don't care how relaxed you are, if a stronger man is pushing, leaning and tugging on you all night it saps the strength in your arms and legs slows you down.
Toney slowed down noticeably against Rahman because of this and IMO Wladimir is an even stronger man that Rahman. To my estimation, Wladimir is one of the stronger heavyweights we've seen in the last ten years (look at how he tied up Samuel Peter). No matter how good Toney is on the inside, his lack of strength will always come back to bite him when the other guy ties him up and makes it into a wrestling match. Wladimir knows this and will take advantage of this when the fight goes to close quarters.
2. Toney did not like the jab!
Hasim Rahman showed us just how Toney reacts to the jab, doubling it up at times and snapping his head back. This punch kept him off through a good portion of some of the middle rounds. Ruiz also landed the jab with some success at points in their fight. Wladimir has a better jab than either man and will stay on the outside with it.
3. The hook.
Hasim Rahman, despite being known for having a completely mediocre hook, used it effectively last night and tagged Toney with it more often than the right hand. Wladimir has a short, very speed, hook on the inside which he used to great effect against Derrick Jefferson and against Sam Peter late in their fight.
4. The straight right.
When Rahman did throw a half decent straight right early in the fight, he caught Toney with it and moved him back. Ruiz hit Toney with some nice rights in their fight but lacks as serious punch. Rahman has a good right hand but he did not want to throw it much, most likely in fear of getting countered by Toney's hook. Wladimir has IMO the best right hand in the division and he usually sets it up with the jab. He will throw it from long distance after finding his range with the jab (and snapping Toney's head into place) and not have to worry about being countered.
5. 6'7" vs. 5'9"
Wladimir's height is a HUGE advantage, and don't listen to anyone who says otherwise. When Rahman stayed at long range he had great success. His jab had Toney off balance and missing with looping right hands that made him look rather foolish at times. Wladimir is so tall and rangy, and better than using his size than Rahman, that Toney won't have as many moments to even get to the inside (where he will be met with a friendly Ukrainian hug and lots of mauling).
6. Toney can't hurt Wladimir.
Hasim Rahman has a shaky chin, a very shaky chin. In fact, I'm not so sure Wladimir's chin is any worse. The problem for Toney is that in spite of a high percentage of landed (flush) shots, he never had Rahman in serious trouble. If he can't hurt Rahman, what makes anyone think he can hurt Wladimir? If he can't hurt Wladimir, we can expect to see Wlad set himself and really punch with his best efforts, something he rarely did with Samuel Peter.
I could probably go on but my stomach is rumbling and I want some breakfast. Someone will probably try to point out Toney's so called stamina advantage (a result of his composure while fighting and getting hit) but that will be nullifed by Wlad's strength who will wear him down and make him the weaker man late in the fight.
Also does anyone else remember Toney saying he trained harder and longer for this fight than any other in the recent past? I believe him, but I don't think it will matter. He was in good shape for this fight cardiovascular wise, but he's too old and too weak to look fresh late in the fight. As far as his weight is concerned, he can come in at 215 pounds; he'll just be easier for Wladimir to shove around. Being so much smaller and weaker, Toney always have trouble in the late rounds with these stronger fighters, as long as they use their natural advantages in a constructive way (tying Toney up and wrestling him when he gets inside, and then stepping outside to score with punches when not engaged in a clinch).
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