Yeah, Toney and Johnson are like the ANTI Khan and Thurman. But yeah, not a good fight for James. Johnson was far better at 175.
I've only seen snippets of Johnson but i don't think you really need to see a whole pile of full fights. The guy had victories of Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore among others while Toney was garbage at light heavy.
Harold Johnson is about as technically good as it’s possible to be at boxing ... his technique is flawless
The full fight with Charles is on YT. I know his fight with Willie Pastrano is also on YT, but Johnson lost a razor close decision in that fight. He was faded in the Pastrano fight anyway. He was like 34-35. He was like 25 and in his prime when he outboxed Charles.
I think a Harold Johnson vs John Conteh matchup would be good. Johnson was a different class, but just from a technical standpoint. Conteh was the best technically skilled from 168-175 that the UK ever produced. He'd have outclassed Slapzaghe and Frock.
Johnson should outclass Toney at 175 IMO. Too mobile, too good a jab, and just a better class of fighter at that weight. I've often thought Conteh's style was reminiscent of Johnson's.
