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10/03/2003 Archived Entry: "The CBZ Holyfield-Toney Prediction Poll"
The CBZ Holyfield-Toney Prediction Poll
Compiled By JD Vena
Experts total picks -- Holyfield 17 -- Toney - 12
Have you stopped to really think about it? Just imagine it’s 1990. Imagine Marvin Hagler, the middleweight champion during the early 80’s was getting ready to face Larry Holmes, the heavyweight champion of the early 80s.’ Sound ridiculous? Well, guess what, Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield, the sport’s only four-time heavyweight champion and still a top contender in the sport is facing James "Lights Out" Toney, a man who was once the middleweight champion of the world.
Nearly ten years ago, the Holyfield and Toney were recognized as the best in their respective divisions. Holyfield was on the verge of dethroning Riddick Bowe, then the only man to have beaten him, in becoming the fourth man in history to regain the heavyweight title. Toney had just defended his second world title in as many weight classes and was being discussed as a future hall of famer. Since then, both warriors have had their share of shortcomings and disappointments, but their accomplishments and greatness are now without question.
In April, Toney salvaged his career with this year’s fight of the year, a spirited victory over then IBF cruiserweight champion, Vasilly Jirov, who considered one of the best the weight class produced since Holyfield left it over 15 years ago. Holyfield, who though has been on the losing end over the last few years is still a major threat to the division’s elite, and vows that he will not leave the sport until he wins and unifies the heavyweight championship. Now, the Toney-Jirov battle is being challenged for Fight of the Year and the futures of both careers are on the line in what promises to live up to the fight’s appropriate billing, "The War on October 4."
Will Toney, who has never been stopped (second longest streak among active fighters in boxing), have his lights turned out by the Real Deal? Will Evander, nearly 41 years old, have the firepower and muscle to overwhelm the smaller, Toney? Okay, you can stop thinking about it. See how the experts view this clash of the titans.
Dan Hanley, The CBZ: I have written off Holyfield as far back as the first fight with Moorer, yet, he keeps ticking. His reflexes are far past their ‘sell by’ date, but he still packs a wallop and his chin is still holding up. Toney, regardless of his tremendous win over Jirov looked like a pudge in that fight and now he's somewhere around 225?? He looked brilliant in that fight because Jirov has a welcome mat for a chin, much like Holyfields, which will tell you this might not be a pretty fight but it's going to be fun. Holyfield on a 12 round decision over the smaller but chunkier Toney.
Steve Farhood, Showtime: I like Holyfield on points. I don't think Toney can hurt him. It's up to Holyfield to set a decent pace. If he does, Toney will eventually realize he's fighting a (still) world-class heavyweight.
Tom Donelson, The CBZ: My pick for Toney/Holfield is "Wait, let me make a few comments first.: If this fight was held five years ago, there will be no doubt who would have won. Holyfield in a cake walk. There was a time that Holyfield would pound and fight every minute of every round. Today, he fights in spurts and this will give Toney the opportunity to counter. In Toney’s last fight, he averaged nearly 70 punches a round against Jirov and he was the fresher of the two fighters at the end. Toney showed that he could fight for the entire fight. He has good defensive skills and during Holyfield’s lapses, he will counter. He will not stop or knock Holyfield out but he will outlast Holyfield. The most punches that Holyfield have thrown in his last four fights was 45 punches, that coming in the eleventh round against Byrd. (Byrd meanwhile was peppering Holyfield with about 80 punches. Close fight but I smell an upset.
Steve Coughlin, The CBZ: Toney by close decision. This could well be the fight of 2003. Both guys are no-nonsense warriors that couldn't take a backward step if you gave them a map. I've written Evander off more times than an Enron accountant wrote off losses, but Holy IS old and those fights against Ruiz and Byrd proved it. This may be Evander's last big fight and he's not the type of guy to squander an opportunity. Toney knows that if he's going to make waves in the division he MUST win this fight. I can't say enough about his effort against Jirov. Both have a lot to gain but a loss will put them into "a good test" class of fighter. No one, not even Evander can beat Father Time so I'm picking Toney by decision.
Aladdin Freeman, BraggingRights.com: James Toney has been looking sharp in sparring. If a nasty clash of heads doesn't happen, he has enough left in the tank to get the decision when it goes to the cards.
Cliff Endicott, The CBZ: Since it was announced I have looked at this fight the way you look at a wreck on the highway - horrible and fascinating at the same time. And while Toney can stand and block and counter a limited 190lb banger like Jirov all night, I doubt he can do the same with Holyfield, even an ancient Holyfield. If he fights as he always fights, countering and blocking and not moving much, I can't see anything happening but his block getting knocked off. I can't imagine that Toney has the power to hurt Holyfield, but Evander certainly can hurt Toney. The only question is, can he connect cleanly or frequently enough. Toney may surprise me, but I can't see Evander not connecting hard and often. Holyfield by KO.
Steve Tobey, Maxboxing.com: Holyfield by decision. Whenever it looks like Holyfield is completely shot, he has a knack for showing us he's not quite done yet. They’re two savvy professionals, but Holyfield has a little more experience and most importantly, more experience as a heavyweight.
Frank Lotierzo, ESPN Radio 1450: Although I believe Toney's hand speed will trouble Holyfield, I have to pick Holyfield. The fact that Toney doesn't use his feet that much will help Holyfield turn it into a fight. I hope Toney is cocky enough to stand and fight Holyfield like he did Jirov. If he does than Holyfield will be in good shape. However picking Holyfield is dangerous at this stage of his career. He is virtually and empty package. That being said, I can't go against Holyfield! Holyfield by split decision!
Jack Dunne, MaxBoxing.com: No disrespect to ‘Lights Out,’ but this is pairing of styles that in my opinion, grossly favors Holyfield. As far as styles go, I don't see anything that James can bring to the table that will frustrate Holyfield much less defeat him. The style match-up all but guarantees that James and Evander will be fighting shoulder to shoulder all night. And James can't win that fight over the long haul.
Holyfield is old, he does not have the reflexes he once had, he does not have the speed anymore. But he does have the guile and a more intelligent fighter; you will not find anywhere within the heavyweight division. Evander will probably lose a round or two early on, perhaps a few but he will have figured out James after about four rounds and at that point it will become a contest of heart and guile. Respect to James but he doesn't come close to matching Holyfield in either category.
And while I hate to throw stones at Toney, after a modest period of where he has stayed at a weight semi-reasonable for his division. I can't help but look at Toney's weight issues over his last 11 fights, dating back to 1999 and trust the guy. I do on the other hand know that Holyfield is going to be in phenomenal shape. Therefore, I like Holyfield by wide decision or late TKO.
Ted Bodenrader, The Ring Magazine: This is the strangest pairing since DeNiro and Eddie Murphy, and it's hard to get a handle on it. But I think everybody overreacted a bit to Toney's win over Jirov. Holyfield is old, sure, but he's still Holyfield, and the feeling here is that the old man prevails. Toney figures to win by outworking him, buthis punches will have little to no effect of Evander. I'll take Evander in a 7th-round stoppage, perhaps by way of a cut.
Chirs Strait, The CBZ: Holyfield is not completely shot. It would take many more years before a fighter of his caliber would be rendered completely ineffective. The key here is styles. Holyfield only has one plan: straight forward, rough him up, power shots and frustrate. Anybody remember a time when James Toney looked frustrated? Even when Drake Thadzi, Dave Tiberi, and Roy Jones were outworking him, he kept a poker face. Anybody remember James Toney ever being hurt in a fight? Iron-chinned, and hard to piss off? Sounds like a nightmare for Evander. Obviously if Holyfield wins, it would not be a shock, but I can only envision one scenario by which that is possible: Toney waits too long, trying too hard to counter, and Holyfield volume punches him to a decision win. But I don't think Evander's body will respond well to those demands.
Jake Donovan, RealBoxing.com: Toney by decision. Many people believe that Holy is simply too big and strong for Toney, who may wind up being largely ineffective as a heavy. The latter may be true, but size is not what it takes to beat Toney. Almost 41 and with little more than heart and toughness left, Holy no longer possesses the necessary skills that it takes to beat a throwback like Toney. Even if heavyweight is not a good fit for James, I think that he has enough left in the tank, and enough granite in his chin, to take a decision. It's in Vegas, so it may very well be of the bizarre split nature (one judge for Toney by 4 pts, another for Holy by eight pts., etc).
I Barrio, HardCoreBoxing.net: The ‘Real Deal’ Holyfield by late TKO.
"Ice" John Scully, Former world title challenger: My first reaction when this fight was made was that James would be a big favorite and beat Holyfield by decision with very precise countering and very good upper body movement. I still feel that for the most part. The only thing I feel that gives Holyfield a pretty good chance despite his age is that Holyfield really knows how to use his body to gain position and to wear a man down. Against Jirov, James really looked awesome but he was very tired at the end from the grueling pace and style of the fight and Holyfield will certainly welcome that kind of rumble. I would think that for all his warrior mentality and tough talk, James is still very smart in there and he will use enough movement and countering to elude Holyfield and negate his advantage in strength. I think Holyfield will look a little better than he did with Byrd because James is there for you to hit some part of him....his shoulders, his arms etc. Holyfield will be able to reach him on the inside. But I think, in the end, James will be slick enough, tough enough and will counter well enough to win a 12-round decision.
Bob Mladinich, The FIST and Boxing Digest:There are too many what ifs to predict a winner with any real conviction. But as the fight draws near, I see Toney emerging victorious, probably by a one-sided decision.
Mike Indri, Retired Boxers Foundation (NJ State representative) & The Leader Newspaper: I see Holyfield taking this one. I think Evander is a bit too strong for Toney and hopefully it will be a decent fight.
Yosvani Oliva Iglesias, BoxeoMundial.net: The name of the game (THIS game) is hand speed; you can’t play offense and defense at the same time. Toney has the quicker hands and will be initiating and ending most exchanges. He will frustrate Holyfield and never let him get set. Toney by a wide UD.
Alex Dombroff, Boxing316.com: Holyfield won't budge when Toney hits him. Toney gets frusturated that Holyfield will get the better of the brawling and be stopped in 10. Holyfield by 10th round TKO.
Nathan Dominitz, Pensacola News Journal: Because I had picked Oscar De La Hoya in a majority decision (wrong, but a lot of people apparently felt that way after seeing the fight), I'll give it another try. I see James Toney winning by decision. Holyfield's tough to knock out, and while he doesn't have much left, he could have enough to survive 12 rounds with the motivated Toney.
Mike Nosky, Editor, RealBoxing.com: The most important number in this fight is the weight that James Toney will carry into the ring with him. Certainly, Holyfield not being a big puncher should help out the smaller Toney but the current world cruiserweight champion needs to be in top shape, whgich is at about 190, not 210. I believe that Toney will be in the fight, but the added pounds will not allow him to maintain the high level that he fought at when he dethroned Vassiliy Jirov in April. This will give Evander enough opportunities to eke out a close decision.
Umar ben-Ivan, www.bloodboxing.com: It is a shame to see a great boxing legend like Evander Holyfied at this stage in his career. He should have retired several fights ago and I think he will be completely exposed by the hand speed and skills of James Toney, who will punch his lights out in the late rounds. I am predicting a late round TKO by Toney and that after round 4 he will completely dominate the fight after some initial success by Holyfield.
Bob Trieger, Full Court Press: An interesting fight between an aging heavyweight and blown up cruiserweight. Both are fighters, throwback warriors, which should make for a very entertaining match. Something's telling me Holyfield has just enough to win a very close, even controversial, decision. What would a Saturday night be if not for a controversial boxing decision?
Lucius Shepard, The CBZ: If pushed to the wall, I’d take Holyfield by late TKO.
George J. Elsasser, BraggingRightsCorner.com: The pick here is Holyfield by TKO sometime after the midway point. While Toney brings a sparkling resume` of 66- 6 with 42 KOs to the dance, the victims pale when alongside the company Evander has entertained. I also see Toney as ideal for Holyfield in the styles department at this point in both fighters’ careers.
Aaron Braunstein, www.NyShockjock.com: Holyfiled will knock out the little guy in eight.
Eric Jorgensen, The CBZ: I'll take Toney on points-- by a clear margin.
Kenny Perrault, www.braggingrightscorner.com: I'm going with Holyfield over Toney by a decision. Holyfield may be over the hill but I feel he has enough left in him to get passed James Toney. On the undercard, I'm going with Corrales with a late round knockout in the 8th or 9th. Casamayor has very good skills as a boxer but I wouldn't put him in the same league as Floyd Mayweather Jr. This time Corrales power and size gets him the win.
Jay N. Miller, The Patriot Ledger (Quincy, Mass.): As much as I think Toney is a skilled technician with a lot of resilience and guile, I'd think Holyfield is just too strong. Despite Holyfield's obvious decline, Toney has never been in with someone that big AND that talented, and Evander's granite chin should withstand even the luckiest Toney haymaker. Midway through, Toney may revert to survival mode, andtoday's Holyfield probably can't do much about that. The pick: Holyfield by decision.
JD Vena, Associate Editor, The CBZ: I’ve envisioned a number of different scenarios, but the one I’m leaning towards is Toney by a close decision in a fight that could go either way. Some feel that Toney just won’t be strong enough to hang with Holyfield. Though Holyfield is a better and stronger fighter than Jirov, Holyfield is not going to be putting anywhere near as much as he would have years ago. Also, what people aren’t realizing is that Holyfield has already faced a blown up middleweight in Bobby Czyz. Czyz, in case you didn’t know was a middleweight who grew into the light heavyweight division and ate himself into the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. The reason why I bring this fight up is that it was this bout which everyone formulated their prediction for picking Tyson over Holyfield in their first bout. Holyfeild, who was on the offensive for the first few rounds and had thrown a lot of punches, slowed down considerably in the 4th, 5th and 6th rounds when Czyz’ corner finally threw in the towel. Toney is leagues ahead of Czyz in terms of toughness, conditioning, will and skill. Those are major areas. My guess is that Holyfield will start fast and win more of the early rounds. Toney will be quietly breaking him down while this is going on and will win some crucial moments. Toney will win enough rounds to capture a decision.
