Toney Confident He Would Have Knocked Out Undefeated Usyk

Boxing legend James Toney believes he would have defeated Oleksandr Usyk in their prime.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:11pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, vibrant colors depicting a boxing match between two figures, their movements and forms deconstructed into sharp, overlapping geometric planes, capturing the intensity and energy of the hypothetical fight.The hypothetical clash between boxing legends James Toney and Oleksandr Usyk sparks a captivating debate about the greatest fighters of their respective eras.Boston Today

Boxing legend James Toney, a former world champion across multiple weight classes, has boldly claimed that he would have knocked out the undefeated Oleksandr Usyk if the two had fought in their prime. Toney, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame just four years ago, was once widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world during his heyday.

Why it matters

This hypothetical matchup between two all-time great fighters sparks a lively debate about the greatest boxers of their respective eras and how they would have fared against each other. Toney's confidence in his ability to defeat the dominant Usyk highlights the enduring legacy of the former champion and the ongoing discussions around boxing's pantheon of all-time greats.

The details

Usyk, the current unified heavyweight champion, has compiled an impressive undefeated record of 24-0 across two weight classes, cruiserweight and heavyweight. He has defeated a who's who of top fighters, including Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois. Toney, on the other hand, was a three-division world champion who held titles at middleweight, super-middleweight, and cruiserweight. He is known for his exceptional defensive skills and punching power, which he believes would have been too much for the Ukrainian Usyk to handle.

  • Toney was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022.
  • Usyk has been the unified heavyweight champion since 2021.

The players

James Toney

A former three-division world champion boxer who was once considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world during his prime.

Oleksandr Usyk

The current unified heavyweight champion, who has an undefeated record of 24-0 across two weight classes.

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What they’re saying

“Usyk [is a] good fighter. I would knock his ass out too. Period.”

— James Toney, Former Boxer

What’s next

The hypothetical matchup between Toney and Usyk in their prime remains a topic of debate among boxing fans and experts, with no definitive way to determine who would have emerged victorious.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the enduring legacies of both Toney and Usyk, and the ongoing discussions around boxing's all-time greats. While Toney's confidence in his ability to defeat Usyk is unwavering, the Ukrainian champion's undefeated record and dominant performances against top-level opponents make this a compelling hypothetical matchup that will continue to captivate the boxing community.