James Toney, a former world champion boxer, has named Merqui Sosa as the hardest puncher he faced in his career. This revelation comes as a surprise, considering Toney's reputation as one of boxing's toughest fighters and his encounters with many known power punchers.
Toney, now 56, hails from Michigan and had an impressive professional career spanning over 90 fights. He won world titles in three weight classes, starting with the IBF middleweight title in 1991 when he defeated Michael Nunn. Two years later, he captured the IBF super-middleweight title with a 9th round stoppage of Iran Barkley.
In November 1994, Toney suffered his first career defeat at the hands of Roy Jones Jr. However, he bounced back and went on to win the IBF cruiserweight title in 2003 by beating Vassiliy Jirov, though he didn't defend this title.
Known as 'Lights Out', Toney's impressive professional career came to an end in May 2017 with a victory over Mike Sheppard. Despite retiring, there's been talk of a possible return to the sport, but nothing's certain yet.
In a recent interview with Ring Magazine for their 'Best I Faced' segment, Toney made the surprising revelation about Sosa's punching power. He said:
"Pound-for-pound it's Sosa because he hurt me the most. I'll never forget that fight, we fought on an ESPN show in Atlantic City on a Sunday. I went at him like I did everyone back then and that mother f****r hit me so hard in the third round I was seeing triple for the next three rounds. He knew how to hit and he was so awkward that I couldn't time him and he caught me high on the head."
Merqui Sosa, who fought from 1987 to 2000, held the NABF light heavyweight title twice during his career. His punching power didn't just impress Toney - Roy Jones Jr also described Sosa as one of the strongest men and hardest punchers he ever faced.
Toney's admission adds another layer to his legacy as a tough, durable fighter who faced some of the best in the business. It also shines a spotlight on Sosa, whose power left a lasting impression on some of boxing's most respected names.
