Former three-weight world champion James Nathaniel Toney, famously known as “Lights Out,” has criticised the clinical nature of Terence Allan Crawford’s victory over Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez Barragán, claiming he would have finished the Mexican superstar inside the distance. Speaking to FightHype, the 57-year-old Hall of Famer acknowledged that the Omaha native “looked good” during his September 2025 triumph but argued the performance lacked the destructive dominance he brought to the ring during the 1990s and early 2000s.
The historic bout saw Terence Allan Crawford jump two weight divisions, moving from 154lbs to 168lbs to challenge for the undisputed super-middleweight crown. While Terence Allan Crawford defied many fans’ expectations by claiming a unanimous decision win, James Nathaniel Toney insisted that winning 12 rounds is not the same as doing genuine damage. The retired legend pointed to his own resume, citing stoppage victories over the likes of Iran Barkley and Evander Holyfield as the benchmark for “big stage” success.
James Nathaniel Toney challenges Terence Allan Crawford’s finishing ability
Despite Terence Allan Crawford’s historic achievement in becoming the first male boxer to be a three-weight undisputed champion, James Nathaniel Toney remains unimpressed by the lack of a knockout. “He didn’t do it, but he won 12 rounds,” Toney remarked during the interview. He suggested that his own style, which earned him the IBF super-middleweight title in 1993, focused more on “Lights Out” moments than tactical points victories.
The contrast in their careers is particularly evident when looking at the quality of their respective runs at 168lbs. James Nathaniel Toney famously dismantled Iran Barkley in February 1993 to claim his first super-middleweight strap, followed by knockout defences against Tim Littles and Charles Williams. While some analysts believe Terence Crawford: Canelo Alvarez may not quit boxing yet, Toney believes a more aggressive approach from “Bud” could have ended the Mexican’s night early.
Statistical breakdown of two legendary knockout artists
Interestingly, the raw data contradicts James Nathaniel Toney’s claim of being the more prolific finisher. Terence Allan Crawford retired on December 17, 2025, with an undefeated record of 42-0 and 31 knockouts, translating to a 73% knockout ratio. In comparison, Toney finished his 92-fight career with 77 wins and 47 knockouts, which yields a lower KO percentage of just over 61%. Toney, however, argues that numbers do not reflect the physical toll he inflicted on larger opponents like John Ruiz.
Toney’s induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 2022 cemented his status as one of boxing’s most diverse talents, having held titles from middleweight to cruiserweight. But he remains adamant that the current generation fights with too much caution. To Toney, Crawford’s technical brilliance, though effective, lacks the “old school” grit required to be mentioned alongside the legends of his era who preferred to trade in the pocket.
Physical hurdles and age factors in the September 2025 mega-fight
When Terence Allan Crawford and Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán met in September 2025, the age gap and physical size played central roles in the pre-fight narrative. Terence Allan Crawford was 38 years old at the time of the fight, having been born on September 28, 1987. Conversely, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez was 35, born on July 18, 1990. Despite being the older, smaller man, Crawford’s technical versatility allowed him to neutralise Canelo’s power.
This victory solidified Crawford’s claim as the 2025 “Fighter of the Year,” an honour awarded to him by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA), ESPN, and The Ring magazine. While the boxing world marveled at his movement, Toney viewed the performance through a different lens. He feels that a fighter with his own counterpunching and shoulder-roll defense would have forced Canelo into a corner and ended the fight via referee intervention.
Legacy of undisputed champions in the super-middleweight division
The super-middleweight landscape has seen few figures as dominant as these three men. Canelo Álvarez was the first to become undisputed in the division in 2021, a feat Crawford matched four years later. As the sport moves forward, trainers like Eddy Robles have noted that new challengers are emerging, even as Robles: Mbilli presents challenge for Canelo in the wake of the Crawford defeat.
Toney believes his own willingness to jump weight classes and engage in “wars” defines greatness more than simply collecting belts. While Crawford retired at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, the “Lights Out” philosophy remains fixed on the visceral thrill of the stoppage. This fundamental disagreement between Toney and the modern era highlights the shift toward efficiency and longevity over the high-risk stylistic trades of the past.
The retirement of Terence Allan Crawford and his place in history
With his retirement now official, Terence Allan Crawford leaves behind a legacy defined by technical perfection and history-making undisputed runs. He proved that a lightweight could climb to 168lbs and outthink one of the greatest Mexican fighters in history. For Crawford, the shutout on the scorecards served as the ultimate proof of his superiority, regardless of Toney’s preference for a knockout ending.
As fans look toward future heavyweight spectacles, including the Fury-Joshua bout penciled in for late 2026, the tactical standards set by Crawford will continue to be the benchmark. Whether Toney would have actually stopped Canelo remains a subject for gym debates, but it is undeniable that Crawford’s victory changed the industry’s perspective on weight limitations. Toney’s critique, while harsh, acts as a reminder of a period where the knockout was the only language that mattered.
