James Toney, the former three-weight world champion, has taken a shot at British heavyweight boxers Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. In a recent interview, Toney claimed that the decorated fighters "can't fight."
Toney, who rose to prominence in the nineties, made his comments on the WiseNuts YouTube channel. The boxer, known for his unfiltered takes on the current boxing landscape, didn't hold back when discussing the British heavyweights.
"If you're from England, you can't fight," Toney said. "Can't Fight. I had high hopes for Joshua but after Ruiz did him, he messed him up."
Joshua, an Olympic gold medalist who turned pro after the London games, has faced recent setbacks. He lost back-to-back fights against Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, losing all his titles. In his attempt to win back a title, Joshua got knocked out in the fifth round by Daniel Dubois.
Fury, the current WBC belt holder, also came under Toney's criticism. Fury's notable achievements include beating Wladimir Klitschko for his first world titles and his trilogy with Deontay Wilder, which saw him draw once and win twice by stoppage.
Toney's comments come at a crucial time for both British fighters. Fury is gearing up for a rematch against Oleksandr Usyk this weekend, attempting to avenge his only professional loss and reclaim three of the four major world titles.
Toney's own career saw him win titles at middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight. He was known for his signature shoulder roll defense and natural talent, facing off against notable opponents like Michael Nunn, Iran Barkley, and Roy Jones Jr.
While Toney's comments might seem harsh, they reflect his unfiltered perspective on the current boxing landscape. As Fury prepares for his crucial rematch and Joshua looks to bounce back from recent losses, time will tell if they can prove Toney wrong in the ring.
