GGG vs James Toney, Bernard Hopkins, and Roy Jones at MW

[BoxBuzz]

Just keeping the hypotheticals coming with GGG....seeing as how no one saw him beating Monzon or Hagler...thought I'd test out the next tier.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I think he definitely outworks Toney. Hopkins would be close, but I'd have to side with Nard. Jones was lightning fast but raw at 60, punchers chance for sure.

Edit: shouldn't say definitely, James would rip him with counters. I'd confidently pick GGG though. You should also wait for Kalan on the other thread. I'm pretty sure he'd demolish Hagler like Foreman/Frazier, Valero/Armstrong & Ike/Tyson.

[littlepug]

Wouldn't be surprised to see a Toney fight end in a draw, think he could squeak past Hopkins and I think maybe a points win for Jones, think McCallum and Nunn also gives him tough fights but would have the beating of Jackson and mcclellan

[jezzamundo]

All very good matchups. I see Toney's chin and inside fighting skills presenting him with big problems, but GGG's stamina, workrate and (seemingly ) equally good chin as well as his excellent jab give him the edge, so GGG wins a clear, 116-112 type decision.

Hopkins would fight GGG like he fought Trinidad, staying in close and smothering his power. I see Hopkins getting knocked down at some stage, but he also makes it to the final bell. The winner? I think they would split fights, but it would always go to decision.

The Jones fight is the hardest to predict IMO, because as good as a prime Jones was, he never faced anyone like GGG - not to mention that he hadn't quite reached his prime at middleweight. I think Jones pulls out to an early lead, but GGG catches and stops him in the eighth round.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

would it be Meatloaf 2 out of 3 aint bad probably more like 1 out of 3 aint bad if GGG is lucky.

[Ezzard]

Beats Tony and Jones. Hopkins I'm 50-50 on...

[SamWise72]

My first thought is that Toney would rip him to pieces, but Toney at middle was pretty drained.

[ElJefe]

My predictions are similar to jezzamundo's.

I think he probably outworks Toney. As good as Toney was, and he's one of my favourites of all time, you can't argue that plenty of fighters were able to take rounds off him so I think GGG would probably just get the better of him. The contrasting styles and the way Toney could counter guys who walked forwards however mean that this would probably be the best of the 3 to watch.

In terms of styles Hopkins might actually have the best chance with his ability to go from range to the inside quickly, putting Golovkin on the back foot, smothering his work and then getting out. Saying that, I would again side with Golovkin to win a close decision. I could see Golovkin using his jab a lot rather than a seek and destroy mission, with Hopkins' work rate lowering late on as he feels Golovkin's power.

As for Jones I have no idea. I've said before I'd pick Roy over anyone at 168, but he was a younger fighter and 160. Not the 380+ fight veteran that GGG is. I honestly have no clue on this one. Fvck it. Roy UD. Too fast.

[Esquire]

Hopkings and Jones would outpoint Golovkin. Toney could win a decision if he were in shape and decided to box. My gut tells me he would fight like he did against Jirov and take a beating en route to a decision loss.

[Woldemar]

Toney UD GGG
Jones UD GGG
Hopkins MD GGG

[Kalan]

GGG beats Jones by KO... He beats Hopkins and Toney by UD...

Golovkin would be on top of Roy like Glen Johnson was... Roy wasn't very good when pressured hard and I knew Glen was going to be on him like a lion killing a gazelle... Glen Johnson is older than Roy Jones BTW but he knocked him out... GGG would outwork Toney and Hopkins and get the UD in McCallum-Toney 1 type fashion over Toney... GGG would bring a lot more power than McCallum was able to muster... Golovkin would outbox Hopkins in similar fashion to what Kovalev did, controlling with his jab... Not a shutout such as Kovalev scored because Hopkins would be younger and prime -- but in similar fashion.

[loudon]

I like GG. I'm a big fan. But let's be realistic. How can anyone favour him over Roy at 25? The version who fought Tate just prior to him moving up to face Toney? It's baffling. How many times did Kell catch him? Roy would have thought it was Christmas had he been in the ring at the O2.

[loudon]

GGG beats Jones by KO... He beats Hopkins and Toney by UD...

Golovkin would be on top of Roy like Glen Johnson was... Roy wasn't very good when pressured hard and I knew Glen was going to be on him like a lion killing a gazelle... Glen Johnson is older than Roy Jones BTW but he knocked him out... GGG would outwork Toney and Hopkins and get the UD in McCallum-Toney 1 type fashion over Toney... GGG would bring a lot more power than McCallum was able to muster... Golovkin would outbox Hopkins in similar fashion to what Kovalev did, controlling with his jab... Not a shutout such as Kovalev scored because Hopkins would be younger and prime -- but in similar fashion.

Roy was finished as a top level fighter after Tarver iced him. He should never have signed to fight Glen just weeks later. But I think it's obvious why he did.

Putting forward an argument for GG beating him based on Roy's loss to Glen is crazy in my opinion.

The versions of Roy who beat Malinga and Tate etc were completely different to the gun shy, 35 year old that Glen fought. It's just pointless. I've never met anyone who thinks Glen would have beaten Roy when Roy was anywhere near his best. I love Glen. He deserves credit. But he was in the right place at the right time.

GG would have been dangerous for Roy. He cuts off the ring, he can take shots, and he has obvious power. But Roy was a phenom at 25. He would have had a size advantage, a weight advantage, a huge speed advantage, as well as having great, unorthodox reflexes and one punch knockout power in either hand. GG doesn't move his head much and he can mark up. Roy would have found him with absolute ease. He would have to have been made a big favourite.

Toney and Bernard would also have been very hard fights. Bernard is 6'1, with a 75" reach. James had great skills and would have countered him a lot.

I think we need to see more of him before we favour him over these guys.

[NateJR]

Toney knocks GGG out with a vicious counter off the ropes.. RJJ boxes circles around and white washes GGG.. Hopkins wins a ugly but clear UD.. GGG doesn't beat any of these guys. Lmao

[Keko]

Toney UD GGG
Jones UD GGG
Hopkins MD GGG

This seems like a realistic option!

[keithmoonhangover]

GGG beats Toney wide points, beats Hopkins close points and likely looses to Jones. Jones didn't do much at MW, but I think speed kills.

[HyacinthusTurnipseed]

Toney comes on strong in the late rounds but it isn't quite enough to stop him from losing a close decision he hotly disputes. Or maybe the late round push means he wins a close decision, I don't know.

RJJ is winning the fight when he gets sickeningly iced out of nowhere in the mid rounds. Or he is able to use his outlier athletic gifts to keep dancin' away from Golovkin's power for all 12 where he wins a decision. But I'd probably go with the first option if I had to pick one.

BHop drops the the second and third rounds (first is feeling out) but after that finds a way to consistently "collapse the pocket" and push GGG back enough to win a close but clear decision. Again, or lose a close decision. Even more than with the other two hypotheticals the precise limits of GGG's potential for adaptability and his specific response to the challenges a Hopkinsesque fighter poses would have to be observed before I could make a clearer prediction. You could say that about all of them but I can't think of a time where anyone has tried pushing GGG back (more explosively than Lemieux anyway), constantly grabbing and wrestling and roughing him up, Maybe even chucking in a few borderline fouls. Not everyone responds well to that stuff.

Gun to my head:
GGG W MD12 Toney
GGG W KO7 RJJ
GGG L UD12 Hopkins

[gilgamesh]

They all present different stylistic matchups. Toney was struggling a lot to make weight as a Middleweight so I think Golovkin's steady attack would allow him to outwork Toney and take a clear decision, but Toney would land his share of damaging shots along the way. It'd be a good fight.

GGG W12 Toney

Golovkin vs Hopkins would a very close fight I think. Both are excellent at making their opponent fight their fight. For now I'd have to favor Bernard Hopkins because I've seen him execute his craft against higher level opponents at Middleweight than Golovkin. I'd take Hopkins to win a close UD or SD.

Hopkins W12 GGG

Roy Jones Jr. had his physical gifts as a Middleweight, but maybe not the Professional experience to deal with Golovkin's relentless attack and power in both hands to the body and head. I see Roy Jones winning the early rounds with his flashy combinations and quick hands, but I think Golovkin's steady attack would break him down as the fight went on, and he'd stop Middleweight Roy around the 9th or 10th round.

GGG TKO 10 Roy Jones Jr.



Sidenote: GGG vs Roy is the hardest one to call I think because we're not sure how much Roy was really capable of at 160 as he did his most notable work in higher weight classes.

[Kalan]

GGG beats Toney wide points, beats Hopkins close points and likely looses to Jones. Jones didn't do much at MW, but I think speed kills.

Something Antonio Tarver pointed out as he was chasing Roy for a fight. "Roy Jones is flashy more than speedy. Anyone can waste energy shuffling their feet, juking their head, and throwing flurries with no power. Some excuse that as showmanship. I call it clowning. It draws the attention from the crowd and the judges, but it's not landing effective punches. Roy will be clowning and I'll be hitting him with hard punches. Toney didn't fight. Toney tried to clown the clown. Roy would do a clown move and Toney would mock the move. I'll be hitting Roy instead. I've got news for you. Roy's not hard to hit if you get after him."

Glen Johnson was another no-nonsense fighter. He was in the best shape of his career and he stayed on Roy's ass from bell to bell... Roy never fought anyone who could apply pressure before he fought Tarver and Johnson---who were both older than Roy. GGG would be on Roy like white on rice. This is Roy's downfall and he admitted after being knocked out by Johnson "I can't brawl" ... What Roy meant is he has no inside game.

[keithmoonhangover]

GGG beats Toney wide points, beats Hopkins close points and likely looses to Jones. Jones didn't do much at MW, but I think speed kills.

Something Antonio Tarver pointed out as he was chasing Roy for a fight. "Roy Jones is flashy more than speedy. Anyone can waste energy shuffling their feet, juking their head, and throwing flurries with no power. Some excuse that as showmanship. I call it clowning. It draws the attention from the crowd and the judges, but it's not landing effective punches. Roy will be clowning and I'll be hitting him with hard punches. Toney didn't fight. Toney tried to clown the clown. Roy would do a clown move and Toney would mock the move. I'll be hitting Roy instead. I've got news for you. Roy's not hard to hit if you get after him."

Glen Johnson was another no-nonsense fighter. He was in the best shape of his career and he stayed on Roy's ass from bell to bell... Roy never fought anyone who could apply pressure before he fought Tarver and Johnson---who were both older than Roy. GGG would be on Roy like white on rice. This is Roy's downfall and he admitted after being knocked out by Johnson "I can't brawl" ... What Roy meant is he has no inside game.

But we are talking about MW Jones. Not faded LHW Jones. Stick to topic please sir.

[Kalan]

GGG beats Toney wide points, beats Hopkins close points and likely looses to Jones. Jones didn't do much at MW, but I think speed kills.

Something Antonio Tarver pointed out as he was chasing Roy for a fight. "Roy Jones is flashy more than speedy. Anyone can waste energy shuffling their feet, juking their head, and throwing flurries with no power. Some excuse that as showmanship. I call it clowning. It draws the attention from the crowd and the judges, but it's not landing effective punches. Roy will be clowning and I'll be hitting him with hard punches. Toney didn't fight. Toney tried to clown the clown. Roy would do a clown move and Toney would mock the move. I'll be hitting Roy instead. I've got news for you. Roy's not hard to hit if you get after him."

Glen Johnson was another no-nonsense fighter. He was in the best shape of his career and he stayed on Roy's ass from bell to bell... Roy never fought anyone who could apply pressure before he fought Tarver and Johnson---who were both older than Roy. GGG would be on Roy like white on rice. This is Roy's downfall and he admitted after being knocked out by Johnson "I can't brawl" ... What Roy meant is he has no inside game.

But we are talking about MW Jones. Not faded LHW Jones. Stick to topic please sir.

Roy had the same vulnerabilities as a Middleweight that he had as a Light Heavyweight. He quickly outgrew the division and never fought a good Middleweight who could apply pressure like Gennady Golovkin, Glen Johnson, or Antonio Tarver. Hopkins was a neophyte and not a pressure fighter. Even at Super Middleweight and LHW Roy wasn't challenged. Toney was in the worst shape of his life to that point, and he's a counter puncher.. Griffin was wide open, easy to tag, and he stayed off of you.. Roy was floored by the mediocre De Valle, but his 1st test was Tarver.

[keithmoonhangover]

Something Antonio Tarver pointed out as he was chasing Roy for a fight. "Roy Jones is flashy more than speedy. Anyone can waste energy shuffling their feet, juking their head, and throwing flurries with no power. Some excuse that as showmanship. I call it clowning. It draws the attention from the crowd and the judges, but it's not landing effective punches. Roy will be clowning and I'll be hitting him with hard punches. Toney didn't fight. Toney tried to clown the clown. Roy would do a clown move and Toney would mock the move. I'll be hitting Roy instead. I've got news for you. Roy's not hard to hit if you get after him."

Glen Johnson was another no-nonsense fighter. He was in the best shape of his career and he stayed on Roy's ass from bell to bell... Roy never fought anyone who could apply pressure before he fought Tarver and Johnson---who were both older than Roy. GGG would be on Roy like white on rice. This is Roy's downfall and he admitted after being knocked out by Johnson "I can't brawl" ... What Roy meant is he has no inside game.

But we are talking about MW Jones. Not faded LHW Jones. Stick to topic please sir.

Just MW Kalan. Not the rest. Jones at MW.
Roy had the same vulnerabilities as a Middleweight that he had as a Light Heavyweight. He quickly outgrew the division and never fought a good Middleweight who could apply pressure like Gennady Golovkin, Glen Johnson, or Antonio Tarver. Hopkins was a neophyte and not a pressure fighter. Even at Super Middleweight and LHW Roy wasn't challenged. Toney was in the worst shape of his life to that point, and he's a counter puncher.. Griffin was wide open, easy to tag, and he stayed off of you.. Roy was floored by the mediocre De Valle, but his 1st test was Tarver.

[Kalan]

But we are talking about MW Jones. Not faded LHW Jones. Stick to topic please sir.

Just MW Kalan. Not the rest. Jones at MW.
Roy had the same vulnerabilities as a Middleweight that he had as a Light Heavyweight. He quickly outgrew the division and never fought a good Middleweight who could apply pressure like Gennady Golovkin, Glen Johnson, or Antonio Tarver. Hopkins was a neophyte and not a pressure fighter. Even at Super Middleweight and LHW Roy wasn't challenged. Toney was in the worst shape of his life to that point, and he's a counter puncher.. Griffin was wide open, easy to tag, and he stayed off of you.. Roy was floored by the mediocre De Valle, but his 1st test was Tarver.

There's nothing at Middleweight to draw on for Roy Jones... Roy fought 2 Middleweight Title Fights: a fledging Hopkins who still had technical problems and who didn't attack anybody, and Thomas Tate, a guy who also didn't attack. You need a better representation of Title Fights than that. Toney has a good representation of Middleweight Title fights and would probably do better, but be out worked.

[keithmoonhangover]

Just MW Kalan. Not the rest. Jones at MW.
Roy had the same vulnerabilities as a Middleweight that he had as a Light Heavyweight. He quickly outgrew the division and never fought a good Middleweight who could apply pressure like Gennady Golovkin, Glen Johnson, or Antonio Tarver. Hopkins was a neophyte and not a pressure fighter. Even at Super Middleweight and LHW Roy wasn't challenged. Toney was in the worst shape of his life to that point, and he's a counter puncher.. Griffin was wide open, easy to tag, and he stayed off of you.. Roy was floored by the mediocre De Valle, but his 1st test was Tarver.

There's nothing at Middleweight to draw on for Roy Jones... Roy fought 2 Middleweight Title Fights: a fledging Hopkins who still had technical problems and who didn't attack anybody, and Thomas Tate, a guy who also didn't attack. You need a better representation of Title Fights than that. Toney has a good representation of Middleweight Title fights and would probably do better, but be out worked.

Jones would have dominated Toney at MW, no question. Jones was on a different page. He beat Hopkins, who was a superb fighter even then. Toney lost to Tiberi, Jones would have knocked Dave out inside 6 rounds.

[crusader]

Toney UD GGG
Jones UD GGG
Hopkins MD GGG

This seems like a realistic option!

Yall must have ferg'ot