Floyd Mayweather's famous defensive style might not be entirely his own creation. James "Lights Out" Toney, a Hall of Fame boxer, claims Mayweather copied the technique from him.
Mayweather, now 47, hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He's known for his perfect 50-0 record and world titles in five weight classes from super featherweight to light middleweight. His "hit and not get hit" approach led to wins over big names like Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, and Canelo Alvarez.
Toney, nicknamed "Lights Out," recently spoke on the WiseNuts Podcast about Mayweather's style. He said:
"Everybody knows Floyd Mayweather took it off me. When I was training in Vegas, Floyd Mayweather came into the gym and he was asking me how to do things … Everybody know I do it the right way anyway, Floyd look like he scared, I stay in the pocket, he go out the pocket, I'm trying to break your damn face, that's me, that's how I fight."
Toney's career spanned nearly 30 years. He won world titles in three divisions and fought 92 times, losing only 10 - all by points decision. His last fight was a knockout win over Mike Sheppard in May 2017.
Both fighters are known for their shoulder roll, a defensive move that helps catch, block, and roll with punches from even the hardest hitters. But Toney dismisses Mayweather's version of the technique.
In a separate interview with FightHype, Toney admitted he wasn't the first to use the shoulder roll:
"You seen me, right, you seen mine, my shoulder roll? Mine's real, the real one to do it. I am the shoulder roll king, period. Hands down. It [the shoulder roll] came from Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles – 'The Cincinnati Cobra,' those were the originators. I just picked it up and added my polish to it. See, I'm a hitter. I knock people out!"
Mayweather might argue that his father, Floyd Sr, taught him the technique from his own pro career. The debate over who perfected the shoulder roll continues, but its effectiveness in the ring is undeniable.
