James Toney, one of boxing's most accomplished stars, doesn't think Floyd Mayweather is the greatest boxer of all time. In fact, he says it's "Not even close."
Toney shared his thoughts in a recent interview on the WiseNuts channel. The former champion didn't hold back when asked about Mayweather's legacy.
"Floyd wouldn't have made it in my era," Toney said. He believes Mayweather didn't face tough enough competition in his prime. "He didn't fight the top fighters of the 90s. He waited for them to retire."
Toney's career spanned from 1988 to 2017, during which he won middleweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight world titles. He even challenged for the heavyweight title twice, winning once but getting stripped due to a failed doping test. Out of his 92 fights, he lost only 10 and was never stopped in the ring.
Mayweather, on the other hand, retired in 2017 with a perfect 50-0 record. He won world titles in five weight classes from super featherweight to super welterweight. His notable wins include Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez, Oscar De La Hoya, and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Despite Mayweather's impressive record, Toney isn't convinced. "He wouldn't fight Chavez. He wouldn't beat Chavez," Toney argued. He did give Mayweather credit for beating Canelo Alvarez but dismissed other opponents like Ricky Hatton as "garbage."
Both Toney and Mayweather are known for their shoulder roll defense, a technique that made them hard to hit. But Toney doesn't think Mayweather's skills would have been enough in his era.
Toney didn't stop at Mayweather. He also had strong opinions about other current boxers, including Canelo Alvarez and Jake Paul. He even commented on Mike Tyson's potential fight with Paul.
While Mayweather has retired from professional boxing, he continues to participate in exhibition matches. Toney, known for not speaking highly of many current fighters, seems to view the current boxing landscape with a critical eye.
