James Toney (in prime at middleweight) vs Kelly Pavlik?

Question

who would you bet the house on?

did Toney ever fight a middleweight that hit as hard as Pavlik?

Answer 1

Pavlik will go down as one of boxings most under rated!!

Pavlik is 6 foot 3 with a 75 inch reach. To the idiot that said Pavlik couldn't handle a good defensive fighter, go back to watching soccar!! Pavlik has power timing and speed, couple this with his height and reach advantage and you have a world beater!!. Toney was good but Pavlik better. Pavlik by knockout. I'd bet the neighbours house on that as well!!

Answer 2

Toney could certainly outbox Pavlik but I see the most significant factor is that Toney at middleweight really struggled to make weight.  He was losing against Michael Nunn, he had to climb off the canvas against light-hitting Reggie Johnson, and he was thoroughly outworked by Dave Tiberi in what was one of the worst decisions that I have ever seen.

Pavlik would keep jabbing and punching.  Toney would make him miss about 80% of them but he wouldn't throw enough in return.  He would land his shots on Pavlik but overall, it would be a case of Toney being too dehydrated and Pavlik winning a decision.

Answer 3

Kelly Pavlik. I feel he's in better shape than Toney was and can move faster.

Answer 4

They're both going to go down as great fighters, but you have to pick Toney in this one.

Pavlik may have an edge in power, but Toney was also a big puncher, especially as 160.  One of Toney's greatest attributes, along with all his skill and ability, is his chin, it sort of negates Pavlik's power advantage because he wouldn't be able to KO Toney, but Toney could KO Pavlik.

Pavlik's style is tailormade for a slick counter puncher like Toney, the fight would take place in the center of the ring, with Light's Out avoid and stuffing a lot of shots, and finding holes in Pavlik's defense.

You have to love Pavlik's style, heart, demeanor and basically everything he brings to the sport - but if Taylor had the power to drop him and the boxing ability to take him to a close decision, Toney would brutalize him.

Toney by TKO in 9.

James Toney's abilities are going to be far more appreciated after he's left the sport.  To me, he's this era's version of Roberto Duran, all skill, power, attitude and toughness - easily one of the 4 or 5 most "complete" fighters of the past 30 or so years.

Answer 5

James Toney at Middleweight was very slick and a great boxer. I think that he was overshadowed by Roy Jones who was the HBO golden boy before the "Golden Boy". One problem that James had throughout his whole career was that he was never in shape  in between fights and that's what kills so many good fighters Roberto Duran for example.

However if James Caught Kelly Pavlik at Middleweight and he was in shape and didn't have too sweet himself out to make weight he gives Kelly a ton of problems. Why ? Kelly Pavlik with all his power is a puncher plain and simple. The thing with big punchers are once they get in with a great defensive fighter they crumble because the power is no long an asset they have to play another game. In the two Jermain Taylor fights especially the first one Kelly was have major problems with Jermain's Boxing he was actually losing the first fight until he scored the knockout. Jermain Taylor as great of an athlete as he is the guy has horrible boxing ability. Jame Toney at Middleweight would box Kelly's ears off unless Kelly could out work him but if James comes in shape he beats Kelly Pavlik.

Answer 6

In shape and in his prime, James Toney would beat Kelly Pavlik.

Answer 7

Toney wins he was so good at picking holds in a defence and Pavlik has a leaky defence . Pavlik big weapon is his power but Toney was very hard to connect with a clean punch. Toney like to tap tap tap and then bring the big puch in he would stop him late.

Answer 8

Toney has one of the better chins in boxing history.  Toney outboxes Pavlik