Toney lays down the gauntlet to Haye

[Gray-Fox]

http://www.BS.com/index.php?m=show&id=15109

“David Haye is a comedian. Is he scared of an old, fat, short guy? He’s done nothing to even deserve a fight with [Wladimir] Klitschko. He won the cruiserweight titles from two bums, one old guy and one guy who can’t even fight in [Enzo] Maccarrinelli. And he thinks now he should get Klitschko?

Which is bang on in my opinion.

[hitman_hatton1]

true.

but toney ain't done much either lately has he.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z0h_c9eH-8

[ArtOfWar]

Mormeck may have been old, but he was still the best in the division and on top of his game when Haye beat him. Anyone who tries to pick holes in that win is just a twat, especially considering it was in France. Toney would be a great opponent for Haye in his next fight though, I'd love to see it happen.

[banjo]

Typical Toney trash talk, plus what he said about Haye is no worse than what Haye said about Klitschko. This is a fight i'd like to see.

[Autobarn]

Toney is old and small, so Haye wouldn't even get practise vs a proper heavyweight. I think Haye would be too fast - Toney has clearly lost his legs & reflexes - and besides Haye has a UK arena booked, and Toney isn't one to travel.

I gave Toney massive credit for beating Jirov. It was the last GREAT thing he did. Haye knocking out Mormeck and Maccarinelli definitely measures up to that level. Mormeck too old? Mac certainly was fresh // Mac can't fight? Mormeck certainly can.

Most of what Toney said is bollocks. If Haye is looking for a top 10 opponent, how is he looking to jump the queue for Wlad? He's ready to earn it, by beating contenders.

Come on Haye/GBP: secure a good opponent, from the top 10 of ANY ONE sanctioning body (shouldn't be too hard, there's plenty to choose from, though not all will want to travel) & shut these guys up.

Remember, Toney used to say shit about Lennox Lewis, when Toney was a super middle/light heavy in the mid/late 90s. In about 2003 Toney confronted Lewis saying "When are you going to fight me." Lewis laughed it off and said, "He's a joke."

Toney was great, but he wasted his heavyweight run by carrying too much weight. Too late now, sadly, James.

[charlieb]

I'd imagine Haye's probably chomping at the bit after reading that. I'm sure he'd respond in kind if he had his way.

Adam Booth is in the driver's seat though and a cool head will prevail. Toney is a horrible match-up stylistically for Haye, not to mention that Toney's up and down heavyweight career means that the reward versus the risk of fighting a possibly reinvigorated Toney isn't workable.

Having said that, Mormeck was the least ideal cruiser that Haye could have unified against in terms of style and not only did Haye push for the fight, he went to the man's backyard to make it happen. So we'll see if Haye gets his way again.

Toney wont answer any of the questions people have asked of a heavyweight Haye, if anything it would be akin to the new cruiser champ fighting the old cruiser champ ... at heavy.

Another view may be that Haye is a terrile match-up for Toney, as Byrd recently showed, it's not so easy to switch from fighting lumbering heavies to lightning fast smaller guys, and Haye brings the sort of power that might end Toney's renaissance.

I'm a fan of both and given that neither is faint hearted in the mouthing off dept, this may be a fight that they end up talking themselves into. I'd rather they fought if both held a title, but who knows.

One thing is for sure ... if Haye fights Rahman now, he's going to take a lot of stick, and rightly so.

[Gray-Fox]

I think Toney would smash Haye personally.

Haye is good, but people are doing the usual British thing of overrating him before he's even done anything at the weight.

[Eraserhead]

I think Toney would smash Haye personally.

Haye is good, but people are doing the usual British thing of overrating him before he's even done anything at the weight.

And what exactly has James Toney done since beating Jirov? Stopped a shot to bits Holyfield, maybe? Ruiz? Good performance at the time - but how much was that down to the stuff JT was putting in his body? Besides, outboxing John Ruiz is nothing to write home about.

Guinn? Who HASN'T beaten Dominic Guinn? Toney was then lucky to get a draw with Hasim Rahman. Sam Peter then OUTBOXES Toney twice! Who'd thunk it. James Toney the masterful boxer is out thought and out jabbed by Sam Peter of all people. We then get a split decision over Danny Batchelder, essentially a club fighter.

Toney's talking overshadows the fact that he's meaningless as a heavyweight. Look at his record. Jirov is the ONLY meaningful win and virtuoso performance we've seen from Toney since Mike McCallum in 1997. If you want to make him feel better, you could maybe make a case for Holyfield, too, but that's it. Even then we're pushing things.

[HairyBoxe24]

Haye would give Toney the beating of his life at this point, Haye not proving himself at heavyweight is irrlevent as Toney clearly isn't a heavyweight.. Haye is much more of a heavyweight then Toney.

Hope it happens so Haye can retire Toney so he doesn't have to make more of a mess then he has already of his great carrer.

[Autobarn]

The difference in freshness and reflexes would be massive. With Haye having his "new body" up at heavyweight, and with Toney overweight, with no legs (let's nopt forget, he spent 80% of the Jirov fight on the ropes - even in '03 the legs were going) and no reflexes...

I don't think it would be good for Toney.

Only way it would make sense is that it would get Haye ranked. Would prove little how he'd fare vs a heavyweight because Toney started boxing at about 157-pounds.

[Gray-Fox]

You lot rate Haye too much. He lost to Carl Thompson ffs.

We'll see anyway.

[lefthook82]

All I know is that haye just needs to fight somebody live. If he dares fight Rahman then we know he comes from the School of Warren

[Eraserhead]

You lot rate Haye too much. He lost to Carl Thompson ffs.

We'll see anyway.

You do realise James Toney lost to Drake Thadzi, don't you? And Dave Tiberi? Did you see those fights?

[banjo]

You lot rate Haye too much. He lost to Carl Thompson ffs.

We'll see anyway.

To be honest that loss to Thompson made Haye wake up and realise he was far from the finished article. That defeat was the best thing that has happened to Haye and he'd probably admit that himself, also that defeat was nearly 4 years ago and Haye has come a long way since then.

As for Toney, a fight between him and Haye would be interesting only for the trash talk, I'd expect Haye to blast him out of there really. When I look at Toney now it's a bit sad when you think this fat bloater was once one of the leanest, most athletic and arguably the best P4P fighter in the sport in the early '90's.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

I don't know about you fellers, but I can see Toney knocking out Haye but not the
other way round.

[Gray-Fox]

Fair dos.

[Autobarn]

All I know is that haye just needs to fight somebody live. If he dares fight Rahman then we know he comes from the School of Warren

He sid he was going to fight a top 10 sanctioning body rated guy in the 1st fight of the deal. He doesn't have to fight anyone special. It's about getting a ranking, testing out his body at the weight, etc. Look who Holyfield fought in his early heavyweight bouts. Pinkon Thomas was first, I believe, totally shot, couldn't get out of the way of punches, a punching bag in there. Then Evander went for the unproven unbeaten guy, Alex Stewart, etc etc, before fighting that very hard elim vs an inspired Dokes.

If Haye fights Rahman/Maskaev, then someone like Chris Arreola, surely this will be perfectly acceptable?

[DIRT SUGAR]

this would be a great fight and would propel to the forefront of contenders if he were to win impressively. Toney's not a proper big heavyweight but he's coming off a good result over Rahman and it would be interesting to see, if Haye doesn't get to him early, how he would cope with Toney's sneaky counter right hands.

When you look at experience and level of competition there is no competition, so it would be a great fillup against a big name and if he could win and look good doing it, Haye then has something to shout about as a genuine heavyweight threat.

And I think Haye, with his 'take on anyone' attitiude would be well up for this fight. Fascinating clash of style v power and strong personalities.

A very good fight this. Be great if it came off.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Haye needs a 240lb 6'7 HW to prepare for Wladdy, that man is not a 5'9 ex middleweight.

[Max Molyneux]

I think Toney would smash Haye personally.

Haye is good, but people are doing the usual British thing of overrating him before he's even done anything at the weight.

And what exactly has James Toney done since beating Jirov? Stopped a shot to bits Holyfield, maybe? Ruiz? Good performance at the time - but how much was that down to the stuff JT was putting in his body? Besides, outboxing John Ruiz is nothing to write home about.

Guinn? Who HASN'T beaten Dominic Guinn? Toney was then lucky to get a draw with Hasim Rahman. Sam Peter then OUTBOXES Toney twice! Who'd thunk it. James Toney the masterful boxer is out thought and out jabbed by Sam Peter of all people. We then get a split decision over Danny Batchelder, essentially a club fighter.

Toney's talking overshadows the fact that he's meaningless as a heavyweight. Look at his record. Jirov is the ONLY meaningful win and virtuoso performance we've seen from Toney since Mike McCallum in 1997. If you want to make him feel better, you could maybe make a case for Holyfield, too, but that's it. Even then we're pushing things.

I thought he just edged Rahman In that draw, he did land the cleaner shots and was horribly robbed In the 1st Peter fight winning 9 rounds to 3.

[Max Molyneux]

i think Toney would have a good chance at beating Haye

Not now he wouldn't, years ago he would beat Haye due to Haye's reliance on his right hand and reflexes, Toney's head movement/shoulder rolling and ability on the Inside would win the fight.

[oliverfennell]

Haye brings the sort of power that might end Toney's renaissance.

A win off a head clash is hardly what I'd call a renaissance.

[oliverfennell]

You lot rate Haye too much. He lost to Carl Thompson ffs.

We'll see anyway.

Toney lost to Drake Thadzi ffs

[Gray-Fox]

LOL, but Toney's TALENT or CHIN have never been in question. He lost to Drake Thadzi because he underestimated him. Toney is far more talented than Haye. That much I DO know.

[chinny]

LOL, but Toney's TALENT or CHIN have never been in question. He lost to Drake Thadzi because he underestimated him. Toney is far more talented than Haye. That much I DO know.

Yes but Toney's more talented than anyone.

I'd love to see Toney live so I hope this happens