Chris Byrd vs James Toney

[DrDuke]

Heavyweights, both in prime (of their early 2000s versions), 12 rounds.

Who would you pick, how and why?

[Woldemar]

Byrd by decision.Bad style for Toney.

[gilgamesh]

I'd have to go with Byrd, that being said I think James could've shined more against some of the guys Byrd struggled with. Just depends on the fight.

[DrDuke]

A close matchup. Both outclassed shot Holyfield and both controversially won Oquendo, but Toney was past it vs Oquendo. Toney would probably be a one to press the action. Byrd needs this. Both are great defensive boxers, while Byrd is still more keen on defensive game. Byrd could outjab Toney, what could be enough for the win, cause both could end up without landing damaging shots on each other. Still Byrd wasn't hard-hitting in general, while Toney had punching power and he could time punches. A lot depends on Toney managing to land power punches. Toney could win on landing some telling blows, cause Byrd would hardly land anything, that Toney could feel. Gotta go with SD12 Toney.

[Onetimeonly]

Byrd 10-2 ish. Terrible style for toney.

[BoxBuzz]

A close matchup. Both outclassed shot Holyfield and both controversially won Oquendo, but Toney was past it vs Oquendo. Toney would probably be a one to press the action. Byrd needs this. Both are great defensive boxers, while Byrd is still more keen on defensive game. Byrd could outjab Toney, what could be enough for the win, cause both could end up without landing damaging shots on each other. Still Byrd wasn't hard-hitting in general, while Toney had punching power and he could time punches. A lot depends on Toney managing to land power punches. Toney could win on landing some telling blows, cause Byrd would hardly land anything, that Toney could feel. Gotta go with SD12 Toney.

I'm going with the Dr's Diagnosis on this. But no heavy betting......as this fight has a lot of "ifs"......and much of it would depend on the referee, and the judges. However if I KNEW the ref and judges in advance....I think I would up my bet considerably. And I would be placing much more emphasis on what I knew about the officiators vs what I knew about the fighters.

Oh.....and this fight could go on for 20 rounds...and nobody is getting knocked out.

[mayorcurley]

Byrd decision. Byrd jabs and pivots his way to a fairly easy victory. In post fight interview, Toney calls Byrd a name that gets LGBTQ activists calling HBO.

Toney interview is scrubbed from archive.

[Evander]

If you could get a decent in shape one off Toney at Heavyweight, he could beat Byrd.
Byrd was a smaller Heavyweight and not a big puncher.
Toney could pull it off.