Roy Jones Jr., a boxing legend who won world titles in four weight classes, has picked James 'Lights Out' Toney as the best fighter he ever faced. Jones shared this insight during a recent chat with talkSPORT, looking back on his impressive career.
Jones started his journey to greatness with a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. He turned pro the next year and quickly made his mark. In 1993, he grabbed his first world title by beating Bernard Hopkins for the IBF middleweight belt.
As he moved up in weight, Jones kept winning. He unified the light heavyweight division by beating WBA champ Lou Del Valle and IBF champ Reggie Johnson. In 2003, he even jumped up to heavyweight and took the WBA title from John Ruiz.
But it's his fight with James Toney in 1994 that stands out in Jones' memory. The bout, dubbed 'The Uncivil War', saw Jones win Toney's IBF super middleweight title in a 12-round clash that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
When asked by talkSPORT about his toughest opponent, Jones didn't hesitate:
"James Toney is definitely the best fighter I have ever been in there with and it will never change. James had everything: he had offence, he had defence, he had movement, he had everything. So when you talk about a complete fighter there are not many complete fighters being built every day."
Toney, known as 'Lights Out', was a three-division world champion. His mix of offensive and defensive skills, along with his smooth movement, made him a tough nut to crack for any opponent.
Jones' career took a turn in May 2004 when he lost his second fight against Antonio Tarver. But that doesn't change how he views Toney's skills in the ring.
Jones' win over Toney in their 1994 bout was a unanimous decision. The judges all saw it for Jones, but the fight was far from easy. It showed just how good both men were in their prime.
Jones' praise for Toney speaks volumes about the respect these great fighters have for each other. It's a reminder of the skill and heart that make boxing such a thrilling sport.
