Posted: 29 Oct 2005, 16:58
Shame these matchups can't be made, would be great to know for sure, but it's interesting thinking about it anyhow.
I think generally that these days there's a lot more emphasis on size, and as a result the majority of people who become heavyweights and who are offered the big breaks are big old lumps.
Jameel McCline is a good example, pretty good natural athlete, but far too big and stiff, and nowhere near the puncher his physique
A lot of guys around the 200-210 mark figure they aren't going to cut it, so either don't go into boxing in the first place or campaign at cruiserweight.
Fact that Toney, who is at least 15 lbs overweight, and is basically about 190-200 in best shape, leads me to believe that there are a lot of smaller, faster and skilled guys out there who are slipping through the net.
I reckon the Toney who beat Jirov would have been able to compete just as well in the heavyweight division.
Must be said Lewis made very good use of his size later in his career, and was very hard to beat, certainly on points. Earlier he was a bit open and disorganised when on the attack, his balance was better later on, and he used his size and strength to good effect. Unlike a lot of the other big lumps out there, Lewis was athletic, and his punch power was certainly no joke.
I've always thought that the right hand that Lewis detonated on Rahman must be a contender for the hardest punch ever landed in the ring.
I think generally that these days there's a lot more emphasis on size, and as a result the majority of people who become heavyweights and who are offered the big breaks are big old lumps.
Jameel McCline is a good example, pretty good natural athlete, but far too big and stiff, and nowhere near the puncher his physique
A lot of guys around the 200-210 mark figure they aren't going to cut it, so either don't go into boxing in the first place or campaign at cruiserweight.
Fact that Toney, who is at least 15 lbs overweight, and is basically about 190-200 in best shape, leads me to believe that there are a lot of smaller, faster and skilled guys out there who are slipping through the net.
I reckon the Toney who beat Jirov would have been able to compete just as well in the heavyweight division.
Must be said Lewis made very good use of his size later in his career, and was very hard to beat, certainly on points. Earlier he was a bit open and disorganised when on the attack, his balance was better later on, and he used his size and strength to good effect. Unlike a lot of the other big lumps out there, Lewis was athletic, and his punch power was certainly no joke.
I've always thought that the right hand that Lewis detonated on Rahman must be a contender for the hardest punch ever landed in the ring.