Boxing fanatics who have been following the sport since the 1980s reminisce about James Toney and his fights even today. One of the most skilled fighters and a three-division world champion, Lights Out, is still talked about 8 years post-retirement, despite wrapping up his career with a 77-10 record and cementing his name in the International Boxing Hall of Fame three years ago. While most would agree that he had an illustrious career, he didn’t quite get the chance to fight the feared Mike Tyson.

You see, by the time the legendary trash talker moved up to the limitless weight division, where The Baddest Man on the Planet had his home for over two decades, the latter was already out of his prime. Even though he made a blast of an entry by defeating Evander Holyfield in October 2003 via ninth-round TKO, Tyson stood at the crossroads of declining stamina and a $34 million debt to deal with. No doubt, two years later, Mike Tyson would choose to step out of boxing. While hypothetical matchups popped up virtually by boxing outlets and fans alike, the fight never moved to the ring.

Now, years later, while commentating on the present generation of boxers and their fights, Toney has ended the debate with one line on the fight that never happened. When Elie Seckbach from ES News got the chance to ask James Toney in Vine St., Los Angeles, about who would win if he were to fight Kid Dynamite, he instantly replied, “If I fight Mike Tyson, they will come and arrest me.” Now, the counterpunching genius is well known in the community for being an unintentional comedian, and that’s what he did here.

By that one statement alone, he meant that if he was placed on the canvas against Mike Tyson, he would probably beat the Brooklyn native so much that the police would arrest him! But then, smoothing the blow, Toney added, “I love Mike. Don’t get me wrong. Mike’s a great dude.” Because on paper, Tyson and Toney did not have anything personal. No feud. No rivalry. So, apart from fans wanting to see a matchup and figuring who would win, there was no reason the 5’9″ boxer would hate the 50-7 boxer.

But, when it came to the actual bout, Toney didn’t blink while declaring, “Everybody knows I’ll always be the top dog if me and him [Tyson] ever fought.” But how true is that? Since both Tyson and Toney are on in the retired-boxers book now, even if a fight were to happen, it would likely be an exhibition one. Is there a way we can know without a showdown between the two? Well, sure, there are forums where fans have expressed their sentiments about it, but let’s take it from someone who knows what it’s like to fight both James Toney and Mike Tyson.

Mike Tyson and James Toney: one common point linking the two

While Mike Tyson fought Evander Holyfield twice in 1996 and 1997, Toney did so in 2003. So, Holyfield truly is The Real Deal when it comes to determining if Toney’s claims of easily putting out Tyson match reality. You see, in a separate interview with Holyfield in October 2017, ES News asked The Warrior who would win if Tyson and Toney fought. To which he didn’t blink when choosing Iron Mike as the overpowering one. “Of course, Mike would’ve killed him [Toney],” said Holyfield, as if it were obvious.

And, he sure enough mentioned the reason why. “I’m telling you. When Mike realized that he can hit you, he’s gonna get you out of there. He [Toney] might tap Mike or something, but I know when he [Toney] hit me, and he had that power on the punch, Mike will clean you up,” the Atlanta native continued. That came from Evander Holyfield when, in fact, Toney was the one to secure a ninth-round TKO victory in their match. Tyson, on the other hand, lost to Holyfield in their first fight by eleventh-round stoppage, giving away the chance to secure the WBA heavyweight title.

In the second bout, Mike Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ear. This ingrained moment in boxing history entitled Holyfield to keep his belt. Therefore, coming from the champ himself, it is Tyson who has better chances of winning a high-profile bout against James Toney. What are your thoughts? If a match ever happens between the two, who do you think would emerge victorious?