The best technical boxer from 1980's onwards

[treelo]

I don't know if i have done this already, but i know some guys have speed, some guys have endurance, some are tough as nails and some fighters are just naturally good at fighting

But the more i watch James Toney the more i appreciate what he brought to the table, he was a lazy SOB but man could he fight, i remember Eddie Futch saying he didnt ever want to train and wanted to fight at HW when he was at SMW, he said he wouldnt be able to compete with those big guys and he would be seriously hurt(he was talking about fist size at the time, and said Toneys hands were tiny compared to the HWs), but he moved up and did a half decent job considering how small he was

The only other fighter i can think technically who was as sound as him is probably Mike McCallum

I remember watching Toney back in the day and thinking he was a bit of a mouth and when Jones beat him i was pretty pleased, but everyone and anyone just speaks so highly of him, a proper throwback fighter and now im showing my age as i used to watch him about 30 fucking years ago

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

He was a special fighter and even the old-timers (both fighters & trainers) could see that. Definitely a throwback. The man could really fight and as you said it came so natural to him. If only his work ethic matched his innate ability.

 

[Intermission]

I don't know if i have done this already, but i know some guys have speed, some guys have endurance, some are tough as nails and some fighters are just naturally good at fighting

But the more i watch James Toney the more i appreciate what he brought to the table, he was a lazy SOB but man could he fight, i remember Eddie Futch saying he didnt ever want to train and wanted to fight at HW when he was at SMW, he said he wouldnt be able to compete with those big guys and he would be seriously hurt(he was talking about fist size at the time, and said Toneys hands were tiny compared to the HWs), but he moved up and did a half decent job considering how small he was

The only other fighter i can think technically who was as sound as him is probably Mike McCallum

I remember watching Toney back in the day and thinking he was a bit of a mouth and when Jones beat him i was pretty pleased, but everyone and anyone just speaks so highly of him, a proper throwback fighter and now im showing my age as i used to watch him about 30 fucking years ago

Two excellent picks. I wouldn't pick anyone else.

 

[Intermission]

I would pick Mcallum because he has a better combination of technique and power.

 

[Mujeriego]

Probably that guy who use to post here, Spacedude or something.

 

[WklySportsMemes]

I think @MMALOPEZ is the most technical fighter & poster of the 80s 90s 2000s & today.

 

[mozfonky]

when I think of "technical" I think of the textbook stuff they teach to beginners, not the stuff that most good or great fighters do. Hands up high, lost of jabs, good parries etc.., Toney wasn't that, great fighter but I've seen tons of really good technical fighters. Ironically, I've seen some really, really textbook fighters who do everything right but just don't have the attributes to make it to the top. Anyways, Donald Curry is the best example I can think of. Of course he's not a great fighter but he was about the best I've ever seen who fights in the way that a trainer would teach right from the beginning. Most experienced fighters retain only pieces of that by the time they are advanced.

 

[mozfonky]

Probably that guy who use to post here, Spacedude or something.

he was going by a different name recently but maybe he got banned again.

 

[StopDucking]

Toney and McCallum are indeed technically perfect. Good picks.

Their first fight is one of my all-time favorite: