Calzaghe vs. Toney

I remember a time 5 years ago or so, when I would've thought Toney would take Calzaghe apart with inside combinations (and maybe I would've been right, then).

BUT I think Calzaghe with the improved footwork and boxing skill he showed in his wins over Lacy and Kessler, combined with his handspeed and workrate, would take Toney.

People will no doubt point to Toney's fight with Nunn to show how he might've broken down Calzaghe... but Nunn had already developed a bad habit of laying on the inside in his fights, where he made himself a target for Toney's bodyshots and uppercuts. Plus, I think Calzaghe has shown himself to be a better fighter than Nunn, as Nunn only really looked "great" for a few fights, and had already slipped a bit in his last couple of fights even before he fought Toney. IMO, Calzaghe would be able to neutralize Toney on the inside and then outflurry and outspeed him on the outside. And even on his best day, Toney could be outmaneuvered and outworked.

Calzaghe UD.

 

I'm sticking by w/what Ive always thought.... Toney at his best beats Joe. Calzaghe might have the superior workrate, but Toney's inside accuracy, and body attack would wear Joe down. Not to mention that at 168, Toney was pretty damn quick of hand. He'd catch Joe ALOT, more than Joe would catch him. I suppose Joe could win if the judges score activity. But if the fights scored on clean punching, then Toney would be the rightful winner.

 

Close fight either way. I would score it for Toney because I score on what punches land and nothing else....but no doubt the judges would score it to Calzghe based on 'effective agression and ring control' or some other abstract nonsense, which in this case would mean going forwards throwing lots of shots which don't really land.

Calzaghe UD 12.

 

I think Toney eats pressure fighters for lunch..literallly!! ::

I think Toney wins....possibly by late round stoppage!!

 

Calzaghe is not your typical pressure fighter though. He throws a large volume of punches, but doesn't just keep coming forward no matter what is in front of him. He uses angles and moves in and out of range very effectively. He wouldn't be right in Toney's punching range the entire time.

 

Exactly.

Calzaghe is a totally different pressure fighter to almost any other you can name. His pressure comes from his volume and variety of shots, not from his desire to throw bundles of punches whilst standing plum in front of you.

Also, don't forget that the most impressive aspect of Calzaghe's win against Kessler was his ability to ADAPT to what his opponent was doing. Halfway through that fight, Calzaghe changed his style of fighting completely and decisively.

This would be a great match IMO, and a very tight one, but I think Joe wins a UD. Just.

 

Exactly.

That's why I made a distinction between Calzaghe from years ago (say, the Calzaghe that struggled with Robin Reid) and the Calzaghe who outboxed/outmaneuvered Lacy and Kessler.

Also, it should be remembered that Nunn had a lot of success against Toney being aggressive and standing in front of him, with the crucial difference being that Nunn didn't defend himself properly in close quarter exchanges, and in general wasn't as comfortable on the inside as Calzaghe might be.

Also, as meetthefeebles pointed out, Calzaghe showed against Kessler that he was an adaptable fighter. For all his talent and ability, Nunn never proved that he was an adaptable fighter in that way (and perhaps, that was one of the reasons for his downfall)... and IMO, Toney has shown himself to have a questionable ability to adapt to changing situations in fights.

 

Toney's defense and countering ability was far superior to Kessler's, and James was a MUCH better body puncher than Kessler. Mikkel is very good, but he's no prime Toney.

 

Toney hadnt even reached his peak when he beat Nunn. He started to hit his peak probably in the first McCallum fight. Bringing up the Kessler fight is valid, but please throw that bum Lacy outta the eqaution as evidence. And neither Kessler nor Lacy had Toney's defense, ring smarts, or body punching. Joe would be throwing alot sure, but mostly hitting arms, or missing all together. Whilst most of Toney's punches would be landing. That matters in the long hall. I wouldnt be surprised if Toney came on strong at the end ala Toney-Jirov, and started hurting Joe in the late rounds with clean punches.

 

It would be like the Toney Jirov fight. A fight that is scored heavily for Toney, although it should have been way closer.

 

Ive always said the past 168 pounders who would of had no problems beating Joe are RJJ and James Toney.

Toney UD.