A hall of fame inductee has hit out at people who are comparing him to Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez.
Canelo is just shy of 70 fights into a decorated professional career which began way back in 2005 when he was just 15-years-old.
Since making his debut, the Mexican icon has won world titles in four weight classes, ranging from super-welterweight to light-heavyweight, including the undisputed super-middleweight world championship on two occasions.
The 35-year-old from Guadalajara is just over one month away from facing fellow pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford at the Allegiant Stadium on September 13.
One man doesn’t appear impressed with Alvarez though, as speaking to Mill City Boxing, retired four division world champion James Toney played down the skill level and accolades of Canelo, as he admits he believes he could defeat the Mexican great right now.
“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.
“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 ring appearance as a professional came in 2017 when he stopped Mike Sheppard in the sixth round of their bout in Michigan, although he did return to the ring in an exhibition contest in 2023, drawing with Donovan ‘Razor’ Ruddock over 6 rounds in Kingston, Jamaica.