James Toney isn't happy about being compared to Canelo Alvarez. The retired four-division world champion and Hall of Fame inductee says he'd "destroy" the Mexican boxing superstar if they ever fought.
Canelo has had quite a career since he started boxing professionally at just 15 years old in 2005. He's won world titles in four weight classes and become the undisputed super-middleweight world champion twice. Now, at 35, he's getting ready to face Terence Crawford on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium.
But Toney doesn't think Canelo's achievements stack up to his own. In a recent interview with Mill City Boxing, Toney didn't hold back:
"We put too much emphasis on Canelo. If you look at it, he's fought all these guys who are lighter than him, or they are past their prime and all of that, you can't compare this mother****er to me, dog. I fought the best fighters in their prime. I don't even want to talk about the mother****er, because he p***es me off."
Toney believes Canelo's record isn't as impressive as it seems because he's faced lighter opponents or fighters past their prime. He says this is very different from his own career, where he took on the best in their prime.
The retired boxer didn't stop there. He even suggested he could come out of retirement to fight Canelo:
"If he has balls, I could always come out of retirement and whoop his mother****ing a** right now, I'd f*** him up, for real. I ain't got a problem with [doing] that! I'd beat Canelo right now! He can be knocked out, he's not all that. He's no James Toney. He's not in my league, he can't carry my bags. Stop comparing him to me because there is no match, I would destroy him."
Toney's last professional fight was back in 2017 when he beat Mike Sheppard by stoppage in the 6th round. More recently, in 2023, he took part in an exhibition match against Donovan 'Razor' Ruddock in Kingston, Jamaica, which ended in a draw after 6 rounds.
Toney's impressive career earned him a spot in the Boxing Hall of Fame, but he clearly feels his legacy isn't getting the respect he thinks it deserves. He wants people to stop comparing him to Canelo, saying there's just no match between them.
While Toney's comments might seem harsh, they show how much pride he takes in his own career and achievements. Whether you agree with him or not, there's no denying that both Toney and Canelo have left their mark on the sport of boxing.
