James Toney vs Roy Jones at the Heavyweights

[DrDuke]

It was a pretty real matchup in 2003. Early that year Jones became a HW champ after winning John Ruiz, while Toney became a CW champ after winning Vassiliy Jirov. Later that year Jones went back to the LHW to start the blasting rivalry against Tarver, while Toney moved up to the HW and stopped great, but faded Evander Holyfield.

Eventually both had the same HW opponent, whom both of them confidently defeated for the WBA belt. That obviously was John "The Hugging Man" Ruiz. While Toney became an overall more accomplished heavyweight, despite the fact of his championship win being ruled to NC because of a failed drug test.

What if Jones met Toney in a title defence in late 2003?

I'd pick Toney this time. Jones seemed less fast than usually at this weight, while Toney obviously was free of weight problems in this division and his punch was logically heavier there. The bout would be close and tactical early, but Toney would eventually be getting to Jones with right hands. I guess, it would be a crucial factor. Toney would outland Jones with the biggest blows and maybe even land a good enough punch to turn the lights out for Jones. Back at that moment nobody had known yet, that Jones chin was poor, while Toney could expose it earlier than Tarver actually did, if Jones faced Toney at the HW.

What are you opinions on this matchup?

[goose 5]

I think you're right;Jones' speed wasn't the same-Toney decisions him.

[Onetimeonly]

Jones 12-0

[gilgamesh]

Since we can only judge it on being The Roy that fought Ruiz, I'd have to say Roy wins a UD again.

Toney might've beat him if Roy would've inexplicably decided to try it at Heavyweight again in like 2006 or something.

[margaret thatcher]

agree, I think Jones is a bad one for Toney whatever the weight, Roy back when he fought Ruiz still just had too much of that raw insane speed and reflexes imo and would've won a decision

[Onetimeonly]

James would never beat him.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

Toney looked sharp against a shot holyfield, and against sam peter. He struggled mightily with fres oquendos speed

Jones blanks him

[DrDuke]

Toney looked sharp against a shot holyfield, and against sam peter. He struggled mightily with fres oquendos speed

Against Oquendo he was past it himself. He was done after the first Peter fight.

Also, I believe, Toney's loss to Jones was devastating, but it gets a bit overrated, because no one cares about the circumstances around Toney's weight struggles (btw, even the KD in that fight was arguable, as probably there was more effect from Jones pushing Toney after punching him). You can't take away that win from Jones, but within different circumstances the fight could be different, especially at the HW division, those would be quite different fighters.