James Toney has thrown some heavy verbal jabs at Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s claim to boxing greatness. The former three-weight world champion doesn't pull any punches when it comes to 'Money' Mayweather's legacy.
Toney, known as 'Lights Out' during his fighting days, won world titles at middleweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight. He faced off against some of the toughest fighters of his era, including Mike McCallum and Iran Barkley. After a career spanning 92 fights, Toney hung up his gloves with a victory in 2017.
In a recent interview on the WiseNuts YouTube channel, Toney didn't mince words when asked about Mayweather's status as the greatest of all time.
"Not even close."
Toney argued that Mayweather wouldn't have stood a chance during the 1990s, an era he considers more competitive. He claimed Mayweather strategically avoided top fighters from that period.
"He didn't fight fighters from the '90s. He waited till everybody retired. He wouldn't fight Chavez. He wouldn't beat Chavez."
Despite his harsh criticism, Toney did give Mayweather credit for one notable victory.
"He beat 'Canelo,' I'll give him that."
Mayweather's career spanned just over two decades. The Grand Rapids, Michigan native clinched world titles from super featherweight to light middleweight. He retired with a perfect 50-0 record after defeating Conor McGregor in August 2017.
Mayweather's list of conquered opponents includes some of boxing's biggest names: Canelo Alvarez, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, and Shane Mosley. However, Toney wasn't impressed by all of Mayweather's victories. He took aim at one of Mayweather's earlier opponents, Ricky Hatton.
"Hatton was s**t. Garbage."
While Toney's comments might ruffle some feathers in the boxing community, they've certainly sparked a debate about what truly defines greatness in the sport. The conversation about who deserves the title of 'Greatest of All Time' will likely continue for years to come.
