In a move sure to stir debate, Hall of Fame fighter James Toney anoints David Benavidez as his choice for the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer. The former three-division world champion overlooked consensus top fighters like Oleksandr Usyk, Naoya Inoue, and Shakur Stevenson, offering a characteristically blunt assessment of the modern landscape.
Speaking in an August 2026 interview with About Boxing, Toney didn’t mince words, particularly when it came to the undefeated Stevenson. This latest declaration injects a volatile new opinion into a P4P debate that has become increasingly fractured following the 2025 retirement of Terence Crawford and a surprisingly tough outing for Usyk in May.
Why James Toney anoints Benavidez over Stevenson
When questioned about Shakur Stevenson’s standing, Toney was utterly dismissive of the four-division world champion. He challenged the legitimacy of Stevenson’s accomplishments in the current era, contrasting it with the period in which he competed. Toney’s comments echo criticisms some fans have had over the quality of opposition for some of today’s top stars.
“I don’t know why [people think Shakur is pound-for-pound number one]. What has he done?” Toney stated. “Wrong era. If he did it [became a four-division world champion] in my era, then it would be very impressive but in this era?
No it’s not.” Toney’s critique came after Stevenson’s high-profile but often tactical victories, including a win over Teofimo Lopez that some, like Toney, found uninspiring. It mirrors the fallout from Teofimo Lopez’s own loss to Stevenson, which created significant discussion.
The outspoken legend placed the blame for this squarely on Stevenson’s own shoulders, urging him to seek out more dangerous opposition. “It’s his fault because if he wants to be top dog, fight the best fighters out there. Don’t make excuses,” Toney added, referencing his own career and those of his contemporaries. “I did it, Roy [Jones Jr.] did it, Marvin Hagler did it.”
Why David Benavidez gets the nod
Toney’s selection of David Benavidez as the top fighter is a surprising one, but it follows a destructive run for the man known as ‘The Mexican Monster’. Benavidez recently moved up in weight and made an immediate impact, putting on a performance-of-the-year candidate against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez in May. That victory earned him the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight world titles.
Benavidez’s aggressive, forward-pressing style is a stark contrast to the slick, defensive boxing of fighters like Stevenson, which likely appeals to Toney’s old-school sensibilities. Toney has consistently praised fighters who seek out and destroy their opponents. Benavidez, with his high knockout ratio and relentless pressure, fits that mold perfectly.
The choice also reflects momentum. While other P4P candidates have had quieter periods or less spectacular wins, Benavidez is on a hot streak. Rumours are already circulating that he will next target the WBC title in a clash with interim champion Michal Cieslak, continuing his campaign of unifying the division. For Toney, a fighter’s recent activity and dominance appears to be a key factor.
A history of criticism for Oleksandr Usyk
While his comments on Stevenson are fresh, James Toney’s criticism of heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk is nothing new. For years, Toney has been unimpressed with the Ukrainian icon, frequently labeling his style as “boring.” He has argued that while effective, Usyk’s movement-based, tactical approach lacks the excitement and aggression that defines all-time greats.
In interviews stretching back to 2024, Toney has called Usyk “good, but average” and not a great fighter. “None of these fighters are all time greats,” Toney has previously stated. “They’re not fighting nobody. They don’t wanna fight.
The only way you become great is by fighting people who are great.” His view wasn’t swayed by Usyk’s victory over Tyson Fury, which he called a bare win against an unmotivated opponent.
This consistent critique provides context for why Usyk, the reigning heavyweight champion, doesn’t feature in Toney’s top spot. For Toney, greatness isn’t just about winning; it’s about the manner of victory. He values aggressive intent and a willingness to engage, traits he finds lacking in the technically brilliant but cautious style of Usyk.
The old guard vs the new school of boxing
James Toney’s provocative opinions are emblematic of a wider sentiment shared by many old-school fighters and purists. A product of a ferociously competitive era, Toney built his Hall of Fame career by consistently taking on the most dangerous challenges available across multiple weight classes.
He believes that to be truly great, a fighter must prove their mettle against other elite opponents, a philosophy he feels is fading in modern boxing.
His perspective is shared by another legendary fighter from his era, who often question the matchmaking and career paths of today’s champions. They lament what they see as a focus on preserving undefeated records over creating legacy-defining superfights. Toney’s own career, which saw him face legends like Roy Jones Jr., Evander Holyfield, and Iran Barkley, stands as his primary evidence.
This isn’t just about style, but about mentality. Toney’s repeated use of words like “boring” or “scared” when describing top modern fighters reveals a deep-seated belief that the warrior ethos is being replaced by a more business-like, risk-averse approach. His praise for Benavidez is praise for a fighter who embodies that older, more aggressive mindset.
A shifting pound-for-pound landscape
The debate over the pound-for-pound king has been in flux for the past year. Terence Crawford’s retirement in 2025, following his complete domination of the welterweight division, left a vacuum at the top. For a time, many believed Oleksandr Usyk had the strongest claim, but his less-than-stellar showing against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in May opened the door for other contenders.
Interestingly, before his latest endorsement of Benavidez, Toney himself had named Terence Crawford his pound-for-pound number one. In a September 2023 interview, he praised Crawford’s stunning performance against Errol Spence Jr., showing that his criteria are not solely based on aggression but also on masterful skill against elite opposition. This highlights how Terence Crawford’s dominance captured the respect of even the most hardened critics.
With Crawford gone and Usyk perceived by some as vulnerable, names like Naoya Inoue and Shakur Stevenson have risen in the rankings. Toney’s dismissal of them, and his championing of the dark horse Benavidez, serves as a powerful counter-narrative.
It reminds everyone that the definition of a great fighter is still very much in the eye of the beholder, especially when that beholder is James ‘Lights Out’ Toney.
