Ever the competitor, multi-weight world champion James Toney still thinks he has what it takes to beat a current title holder.
American Toney is an all-timer who fought from 1988 to 2017 and achieved great success in the ring. He won three world titles including the IBF and lineal at middleweight, the IBF super middleweight and then the IBF cruiserweight in 2003.
He would go on to twice challenge for a world heavyweight title and despite winning in the ring during that first tilt, he was later stripped due to a failed drug test.
One current fighter who has replicated Toney’s multi-weight success is Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. He has won titles in no fewer than four weight classes from super welterweight to light heavyweight. In three of those divisions, he has held unified titles and undisputed in one.
Canelo is currently the four-belt champ at super middleweight and is the first man in history to do that. His last fight was a routine defence against Jermell Charlo and he will next fight in May 2024, with many hoping he will face off with David Benavidez who called him out soon after his knockout win over Demetrius Andrade this last weekend.
Speaking to Marko Boxing, Toney claimed that despite Canelo’s accomplishments he would not stack up against him.
“Everybody saying Canelo this, Canelo that, Canelo can beat James Toney. Man, Canelo wouldn’t last two rounds with me. Especially at super middleweight, I’ll kill him. He’s an average fighter with great people around him. I would knock him out. He wouldn’t last.”