What was it about Sam Peter that gave James Toney problems?

[Combat Talk Radio]

Yes, I know, Toney had struggles with weight. But it seemed like Peter was able to land over the Philly Shell (a signature defense technique) at will and Toney wasn't working to keep the guy off him. Every time he tried to engage, he got clipped bad. I've never seen such a poor performance from James Toney. He was eating so many punches I wouldn't be surprised if these two fights are what immediately triggered his slurring.

What was it about Sam Peter? Because he never struck me as that good of a fighter overall.

[SN!PER]

Toney wasn't a natural heavyweight. Prime Peter just had too many physical advantages--long reach, good chin, and threw a high volume of punches for a big guy. Plus, his punches HURT and did a lot of damage. Toney couldn't adjust to him because he knew there were bombs waiting for him when he opened up. It took naturally big heavyweights with skills (the Klitschkos) to really break Peter down, hurt him, and make him pay when he tried to fight back.

[Combat Talk Radio]

Toney wasn't a natural heavyweight.

Yet a year and some months prior, he put on a masterclass against John Ruiz, who from my eyes fights similar to Peter.

Sure, Toney was on PEDs for the Ruiz fight but still.

[BigZ44]

Prime Peter was super underrated. Dude was a rock and hit like a tank, he'd be top 5 in today's current HW division and I can see him KO'ing Joshua and Wilder

[Mister Wolf]

Size advantage. Ruiz a bum. Toney or Roy beating means **** all.

[aboutfkntime]

Yes, I know, Toney had struggles with weight. But it seemed like Peter was able to land over the Philly Shell (a signature defense technique) at will and Toney wasn't working to keep the guy off him. Every time he tried to engage, he got clipped bad. I've never seen such a poor performance from James Toney. He was eating so many punches I wouldn't be surprised if these two fights are what immediately triggered his slurring.

What was it about Sam Peter? Because he never struck me as that good of a fighter overall.

Peter was HUGE and very very tough

[Derranged]

Toney got robbed first fight. But as others have said, Toney wasn't a natural heavyweight. He just ate too much and got too lazy to keep his weight down.

[Combat Talk Radio]

So, do you think Hughie Fury walks through Peter even at this age then?

Because the bookies seem to think Hughie blows him out - most lopsided odds I've seen since Tyson/Douglas - and I think even less of Hughie as a fighter than I do Peter, so I'm tempted to drop a Benjamin on Peter for the upset. But then he's promoted by a guy who got stopped by Amir Khan, so I'm not really...

[champion4ever]

Yes, I know, Toney had struggles with weight. But it seemed like Peter was able to land over the Philly Shell (a signature defense technique) at will and Toney wasn't working to keep the guy off him. Every time he tried to engage, he got clipped bad. I've never seen such a poor performance from James Toney. He was eating so many punches I wouldn't be surprised if these two fights are what immediately triggered his slurring.

What was it about Sam Peter? Because he never struck me as that good of a fighter overall.

Mostly, it was due to both his size and youth. By the time James fought Peter he was already on the decline with diminishing skills. In addition, Sam was not a blown up HW. He was a real HW; Unlike "Lights Out" who was a natural Middleweight.

Also, when you add in the fact, that Peter was not your prototypical, fundamentally sound or scientific boxer. However, he was one who lacked proper technique, development and skills when throwing straight punches by constantly landing them behind the neck; Which can also help explain Toney's poor performances against him too.

[Evil_Meat]

A lot of good points in this thread already IMO. It also didn't help that Toney was slipping and looking worse and worse with each fight. He looked good against Holyfield and Booker but then he really lost his shape and was becoming a shot fighter by that stage of his career.

It's quite clear the Toney that fought Booker and Holyfield was a far cry in difference to the fat Toney who fought Rahman, Ruiz, and Peter 2x. It says a lot about Toney's skill, defense, and chin that he was able to stand toe to toe with strong guys like Rahman and Peter without getting KO'd or even seriously hurt....

I believe Toney was pissing blood from all of them illegal kidney shots Rahman landed and I'm sure Peter did a lot of damage to Toney as well in their fights. I do remember thinking that Toney should have gotten the decision in the first one but he took a lot of big shots.