Boxing Legend Toney Slams Stevenson's 'Boring' Fighting Style

Toney believes Stevenson needs to unleash his 'inner dog' to captivate audiences.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 5:03am

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An abstract expressionist painting featuring bold, neon-colored brushstrokes that capture the dynamic movements and energy of two boxers engaged in a fierce match, their faces and figures blending together in a vibrant, chaotic display.Two boxing legends clash in a clash of styles, as Toney's aggressive flair challenges Stevenson's technical prowess.Union Today

Boxing legend James Toney has sparked debate by criticizing Shakur Stevenson's recent victory over Teofimo Lopez. Toney, a three-division world champion, believes Stevenson's performance was unexciting and lacks the flair he displayed during his own career. Despite Stevenson's impressive record of 25-0 with 11 knockouts, and his unanimous decision win over Lopez, Toney suggests the young champion needs to embrace a more aggressive, dynamic fighting style to truly captivate audiences.

Why it matters

Toney's comments highlight the ongoing debate around fighting styles in boxing, with some fans and experts preferring the more explosive, crowd-pleasing approach, while others appreciate the technical mastery of defensive-minded champions like Stevenson. This discussion reflects the broader challenges of maintaining audience engagement in a sport that often rewards cautious, risk-averse tactics.

The details

In a recent interview, Toney criticized Stevenson's performance against Lopez, saying the young champion needs to 'unleash his inner dog' and fight with more aggression. Toney, known for his own dynamic, crowd-pleasing style during his Hall of Fame career, believes Stevenson's defensive-minded approach lacks the excitement that captivates fans.

  • Stevenson defeated Lopez in a unanimous decision on April 8, 2026 to become a four-division world champion.

The players

James Toney

A three-division world champion boxer and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, known for his aggressive, crowd-pleasing fighting style during his career.

Shakur Stevenson

A 25-0 professional boxer who recently defeated Teofimo Lopez to become a four-division world champion, known for his technical, defensive-minded approach in the ring.

Teofimo Lopez

A professional boxer who lost to Stevenson in a unanimous decision, failing to capture the WBO super-lightweight title.

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What they’re saying

“He's boring. He needs to unleash his inner dog and start fighting like a real fighter.”

— James Toney, Boxing Legend

The takeaway

Toney's criticism of Stevenson's fighting style highlights the ongoing debate in boxing between technical mastery and crowd-pleasing aggression. While Stevenson has achieved impressive results, some fans and experts believe he needs to adopt a more dynamic approach to truly captivate audiences and cement his legacy as an all-time great.