Most would consider a comparison with Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez a compliment.
The Mexican has lost just twice in a 66-fight campaign, never been put down and won championships in four divisions. With victories over the likes of Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev, Danny Jacobs, Miguel Cotto and Billy Joe Saunders, Canelo has earned his right on the pound-for-pound best list whilst also becoming the biggest star in the sport.
That has done nothing to convince James Toney he is worthy of a comparison. On the Wise Nuts podcast, the 56-year-old three-weight world champion said anyone trying to do so was wrong.
“Canelo, he’s alright. I don’t hate him, but when people try to compare him to me, that’s wrong. That’s a total disgrace. He’s not the fighter I am.”
It’s a sentiment Toney – who won belts at middleweight, super-middle and cruiser before challenging twice for the heavyweight title – has expressed in the past. Speaking to The Parry, he said Alvarez wouldn’t last with his generation’s fighters.
“Let me say this, Canelo was brought up the right way, he would not last two big fights in my era. He’s soft. I’m just being real with you. He’s a good fighter, but you know what he’s not in our league.”
In an interview with Mill City Boxing, he was much more forceful with his take.
“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. I could always come out of retirement and whoop his a** right now, I’d f**k him up, for real, I haven’t got a problem doing that.”
That comeback won’t happen as Canelo moves ahead with adding to his own legacy. He is currently unified super-middleweight world champion and has said he will start the search for his next opponent in January. Many in the sport hope he answers the call of Terence Crawford, who wants to move up two divisions for the challenge.
