Punch drunk: Boxing legend James Toney looking to 'break records' as possible UFC addition
by Jesse Holland on Dec 16, 2009 11:32 AM EST
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Props: FightHype
Quoteworthy:
"Chuck Liddell seemed uneasy with me being at UFC 107. I met up with Dana. He was cool and said we could do business. We exchanged numbers and I texted him all night, but I was sitting behind Chuck Liddell and I could tell he was uncomfortable with my presence. I think I can break records with the UFC. I would fight Kimbo Slice, Chuck Liddell or Randy Couture; Brock Lesnar too. He could get it and we would do a ton of buys."
41-year-old NABO heavyweight boxing champion James "Lights Out" Toney (72-6-3, 44 KOs), who was in Memphis, Tennessee last Saturday to attend UFC 107, is ready to enter the world of professional cage fighting and test his hands against the biggest names in the sport. Perhaps he saw Ray Mercer put "The Maine-iac" into a leather straight jacket earlier this year in Alabama and decided it was time to prove his power is more than enough to squash a former YouTube star and some past-their prime headliners. But Brock Lesnar? Perhaps in his current condition, yes, but a healthy Lesnar against an aging boxer has double-leg plus GnP written all over it. Anyone care to disagree?
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This wont happen
BUT if it did, I would never purchase a UFC PPV again.
@fjbar75 on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner
the wording in the headline needs to be changed maybe? it really makes it look like the signing was official. "ready to break records as UFC's newest edition" suggests he IS the UFC's newest edition.
by Blunt n' Beer on Dec 16, 2009 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
agreed
changed
It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.
by Jesse Holland on Dec 16, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions
the notion of him breaking records in the UFC is LAUGHABLE hahahahah
great list of guys he named there by the way lmao is Toney for real? at his age and weight, this guy’s cardio is probably going to be absolutely horrendous.
I have no problem with him fighting cans on the under-card to start but they better not put this guy up as a main event.
i hope he means ppv buys
the only record he could help break is ppv buys, and thats what im hoping he means. he could bring over alot of boxing fans wanting to see him beat up on some mma guys, but thats just not guna happen. but he def could make dana some $$$ so i wont be suprised if this happens
in that respect that yea that's possible kingphil
A Toney vs. Lesnar card would definitely have a legit chance at breaking the PPV record.
by Blunt n' Beer on Dec 16, 2009 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
He’s not even a big enough name to generate PPV buys. You would need Tyson or Holyfield for that.
Good times and riches and son of a bitches
I've seen more than I can recall.
PW, I think most of Tyson and Holyfield's old fans already watch MMA. I know I do.
Top 5 P4P D-bag on Mania.
You're probably right
It would take a Pacquiao/Gayweather/de la Hoya to draw the drive-by fans. Just shows how sad boxing really is that nobody above 148 pounds has the public’s attention.
Good times and riches and son of a bitches
I've seen more than I can recall.
Nobody in boxing has my attention.
I can’t stand boxing anymore. I even tried to revive the love for the sport, by watching the Pacman/Cotto fight. Didn’t help. Boxing is dead to me.
Top 5 P4P D-bag on Mania.
I have to admit the Klitschko bros. started after I stopped watching.
I’ve never seen either of them fight before.
Top 5 P4P D-bag on Mania.
Klitschko fight was aweful
Did anyone else scream at there tv every time he threw that right? Is his shoulder injured? Those were some of the softest punches I’ve ever seen. You had one guy shadow boxing and the other guy refusing to punch at all? worst HW fight ever.
by DrewMoney$$$ on Dec 16, 2009 4:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Didn't see it so I can't comment on what the fight was like
I’m surprised that Johnson took Vitali to a decision, can’t have been that great of a performance as Johnson is far from the best HW contender. The only fights that matter in that division are David Haye against Vitali or Wladimir, unless Hopkins moves up to HW.
Boxing is far from dead though, WW is a very exciting division and Mayweather-Pacquiao is a huge fight that will smash all PPV and box office records. The Super 6 tournament is also exciting as for once the top fighters in a division (MW) are all competing against each other and already there’s been a huge upset (Ward-Kessler), controversy (Froch-Dirrell) and a brutal KO (Abraham-Taylor). Add to that the emergence of Amir Khan and from a British perspective at least boxing is still very exciting.
"If you’re a fight fan, I don’t know how you don’t think that that card is a great card…." Dana White on UFC 108
20%: Percentage of MMAManiacs buying UFC 108 (I guess the other 80% aren't "real fight fans" according to Dana)
I really didn't think Kessler had any chance in that Super 6 tourney...
Ward did his homework, and I wouldn’t like to see his record blemished just yet…
Whatever the fuck you do in life, echoes in eternity! <----slightly edited
-Maximus[Gladiator]
by The Negation on Dec 17, 2009 7:55 AM EST up reply actions
Most boxers would get killed
I would to see a boxer get in there try mma, especially that one boxer that said “these guys wrestle each other with their panties on”.
only person this guy would beat inside an octagon....
…is Tim Sylvia
"At home I am a nice guy: but I don't want the world to know. Humble people, I've found, don't get very far"
Muhammad Ali - GOAT
Former UFC Champion Tim Sylvia?
Think about it…
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Dec 16, 2009 12:39 PM EST up reply actions
well how bout asking Ray Mercer?
think about it…
"At home I am a nice guy: but I don't want the world to know. Humble people, I've found, don't get very far"
Muhammad Ali - GOAT
decided it was time to prove his power is more than enough to squash a former YouTube star and some past-their prime headliners.
dude.....i am
Yeah right...
and you’re just fine with them signing guys like Kimbo. Atleast Toney is a legit boxer with an impressive record.
by HappyLittleTreez on Dec 16, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
Actually.........
I’m not fine with the signing of Kimbo. I think that he is everything that is wrong with mma along with brock. I’m a traditionalist, that’s why I love guys like, GSP, A. Silva, Rich Franklin, Kenny Florian, Randy Couture, etc. Guys who respect the sport, not some street brawling thug or a former “Sports Entertainer”. Besides all these boxing guys are trying to do is get paid…… O and as far as “Atleast Toney is a legit boxer” correction, Toney WAS a legit boxer.
by The Nard Dawg on Dec 16, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
My point was that...
If your still a fan after they signed Kimbo then why would signing Toney (an actual combat sport participant with experience) ‘lose you as a fan’. You’re still going to watch.
by HappyLittleTreez on Dec 16, 2009 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
Nard Dog
Why do you think Toney and Brock don’t respect the sport? Tell me what an MMA traditionalist is, since you have declared yourself one. Who are you to decide who fights in MMA? For every person like you (who will quit enjoying a sport because of one fighter) there are a thousand people who will decide to rent a PPV just to see Toney try his hand at a new sport. Don’t think anyone will miss you when you decide to change your viewing habits, because of something that has no effect on you whatsoever.
Top 5 P4P D-bag on Mania.
In the mood to throw down (on the keyboard) every day jay??
Man you never let up do you…lol.
Gonna watch the last TPB special episode in a min and have a cup of tea and a blunt. I suggest you do the same…lol.
And I think Broc would smash Toney in an MMA fight, and i’m not Brocs biggest fan but to think James would stand any chance in an MMA match up with someone like Broc is a joke, maybe a smaller H/W but not Broc.
I"m no Ned Flanders punk!!
LOL
I have to let people know when they are saying stupid shit.
I laughed at the “proof of tits” comment you left for Sarah yesterday. That fit into that conversation perfectly. It was a well timed joke.
There are a lot of people on here who bash Brock for no reason. I take it upon myself to put them back in line when they get out of hand. It’s a thankless job, but someone has to do it. Lucky for me people like PW and Puck Head are always there too.
That StrikerDave guy sounds like a real dick, eh? I saw that you read all those posts.
Top 5 P4P D-bag on Mania.
StrikerDave...
Now that was an argument. The pee’d off failed wrestler…lol.
I"m no Ned Flanders punk!!
LOL
He’s back on again. I just left him a reply on another thread. He’s never on this much. This Lesnar thing is eating him up inside.
Top 5 P4P D-bag on Mania.
LOL what is other poster name again that was classic douche bag move
He’s not all there but fun to argue with for a few good laughes
Did he create another account just to back himself up last night???
That was funny shit in fairness,little does he know who he’s messing with….lol. I have to say you guys, puck head, alpha, john g,etc seriously know their shit, and as i have already learned, are impossible to argue with!!!!
I"m no Ned Flanders punk!!
I'm actually thinking striker is the old introvert
have any of you seen any introvert post? I haven’t and he’s usually in every Fedor, Dana and Brock thread?
Good point..
I have not noticed intro’s name pop up either lately now you’ve said it.
I"m no Ned Flanders punk!!
Nah...Introvert's too cool I think for that name-switchin' shit.
Whatever the fuck you do in life, echoes in eternity! <----slightly edited
-Maximus[Gladiator]
by The Negation on Dec 17, 2009 7:59 AM EST up reply actions
sigh..
there ya go..this pic is on for one day..can’t believe i am even having to justify myself..with some cleavage!!
I didn't want everyone to miss their one chance.
I have to leave it there. At least until PW sees it.
Not only for one day anymore Sarah. LOL
Damn, well that should shut up all of the doubters...for a day at least
Seriously the way some people treat sarah on here is pathetic, nothing wrong with pretty women being fans of MMA and I can’t believe that she had to post pictures of herself here to shut up those chauvinists that can’t deal with the fact that women like combat sports as well.
"If you’re a fight fan, I don’t know how you don’t think that that card is a great card…." Dana White on UFC 108
20%: Percentage of MMAManiacs buying UFC 108 (I guess the other 80% aren't "real fight fans" according to Dana)
What was the picture put up for?
I hope it’s not because tkkpal said “proof of tits”. I wasn’t being a pig. And tkkpal isn’t like that either. It was just funny, what he said.
Not only for one day anymore Sarah. LOL
many people think i would pretend to be a chick..JRE is convinced i am a guy for some reason..well it was proof of tits no??..
I was making sure it wasn't something me or tkkpal said.
He was just playing. No need to prove anything to retards on the internet, Sarah.
As soon as I talk to PW tomorrow I will delete this pic. I know he talks to you and I didn’t want him to miss it. :)
Not only for one day anymore Sarah. LOL
Sorry Sarah!!!
No doubt your a chick and a fine bird you are, and jays right, i was only joking. No hard feelings!!!
I"m no Ned Flanders punk!!
Take a chill pill David W-S!!
You need to relax a bit dude, stop taking everything so seriously. I for one was only joking and ment no ill-feeling to Sarah and hope she knows this. My wife likes watching UFC, K1 and will quite happily sit threw any MMA show I put on, but she is no-where as clued in, and up to date in MMA facts as Sarah is and I am by no means a chauvinist pig!!
I hope this clears things up and again apologies Sarah if you thought otherwise.
I"m no Ned Flanders punk!!
Better than Hershal Walker at least toney has proven KO power
There will be some interesting fights but there is no way he has a chance on the ground against the big HW fighters.
Headline makes it sound like he's already signed.
by HappyLittleTreez on Dec 16, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions
agreed
fixed
It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.
by Jesse Holland on Dec 16, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions
why are you so against it?
id like the boxing fans to see what a top mma fighter can do to him
WANDY RIP
apparantely he stopped drinking
heard it on sherdog. maybe thats why he wasnt comfortable
dude.....i am
This cannot happen
Dana simply cannot entertain the notion of throwing some over-the-hill boxer into the cage just for ratings or whatever. You run a very substantial risk of turning the UFC from the premier MMA organization in the world into a carnival.
If you want to get a boxer in there, get one who is in his prime, and then only to shut up the Larry Merchants of the world who deride MMA as it rapidly erodes the boxing fanbase.
Good times and riches and son of a bitches
I've seen more than I can recall.
yea for sure P-Dub,
“the Larry Merchants” of the world will spin this any way they want. If Toney comes in and knocks one of our guys out, then they’ll say boxers are better than MMA fighters (they do generalize like that lol) and if Toney gets knocked out they’ll say he was an over the hill washed up boxer that doesn’t represent their sport.
Defintiely need a legit, young contender to make the transition from boxing to MMA to set some precedent for future young boxers to make the same transition
by Blunt n' Beer on Dec 16, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions
... have you seen some of the recent trends?
Think about it. The UFC has been dropping guys like Dan Henderson, Thales Leites, Brock Larson, Rich Clementi, Dennis Kang…
… And signing guys like Frank Trigg, Phil Baroni, Kimbo, etc.
The UFC a year and a half ago had hands down the best fighters in each division. Now they probably still do, but the competition is getting much much closer, and the UFC would rather have have a new priority for marketability.
Count me as one person SERIOUSLY hoping the Strikeforce continues to grow and challenges the UFC for #1. The UFC has always been about having the best, but lately that has been changing.
by ShowMeYourJits on Dec 16, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions
LOL
James Toney is a freakin’ joker
In the name of the Fedor, the Anderson and the GSP, Amen.
I underestimated the deadly skills of one of the greatest HWs in the world, Frank Mir. I wrote that because I lost a bet but honestly, he really did impress me. I'm well on the Frank wagon
by Spinning Fat Kick on Dec 16, 2009 11:58 AM EST reply actions
Not so bad if..
I don’t have a problem with boxers coming into the UFC after they’ve proven themselves in some smaller shows or a TUF show… but to come in right off the bat?…. Nah’ Dana wouldn’t do that.
I’m not against Toney fighting for tha UFC, i dont know why all of u act like u wont watch or be a UFC fan if they really did sign him. Sure he would probably lose but who cares they can always cut him after if they want. It just makes me laugh cause all of u talkin shit bout tha UFC if they sign him would still watch him fight whether it was to see him lose or win, just like it is with Kimbo, so quit fronting like u wont cause it makes u look dumb
Here I was...
thinking that 34 is when MMA fighters need to hang their gloves if they don’t want to experience their downfall due to old age. and now a 41 year old wants to fight everyone on the roster, thinking he has another 10 years left in him.
Its too bad the pay structures between boxing and mma are sooooo far apart. I would die to see Lesnar vs Lewis. That’d be too sweet IMO. Guess Lewis could be too old now. I unno.
by daniel worby on Dec 16, 2009 12:32 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Boxers in mma
I really would like to see a world class boxer turn to mma, and not some 40 year old trying to make some extra cash. I remember hearing that enzo macrinelli was thinking bout giving it a try ( before his recent loses.) I bet enzo could have taken out half the bums from the latest TUF
by eagzy on Dec 16, 2009 12:39 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Enzo bjj at the same club as me, so o know he’s got submissions aswell as knock out power. Not many boxer can boast that.
by vinrex7 on Dec 16, 2009 1:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Enzo's done
He can only beat journeymen boxers now, the David Haye fight killed his career and he’s never been the same since. I remember when he said that he could walk straight into MMA and dominate, he didn’t show much respect for the sport and Haye called him out on it.
As for Toney, if he has done some training in grappling then it could be interesting seeing him fight, at least he was a legitimate talent in his day. He’s far more relevant to MMA than Kimbo or Herschel because he has already had a successful career in a martial art. He’d smash the likes of Kimbo but would get embarrassed by quality grapplers. Depending on how serious he takes the sport it could be interesting or another freakshow. Let him face Sylvia first, it’s always funny watching that guy embarrass himself and get KO’d and it would be a decent indicator of how seriously Toney takes MMA.
"If you’re a fight fan, I don’t know how you don’t think that that card is a great card…." Dana White on UFC 108
20%: Percentage of MMAManiacs buying UFC 108 (I guess the other 80% aren't "real fight fans" according to Dana)
This is a chance to see what everyone claims they want to see.
Let’s see how a former pro boxer does against mma fighters. Don’t put him in there against Brock, or any good ground fighters. Let him fight guys like Kongo, Nelson, CC. Let’s see how Toney feels about getting punched with 4 oz. gloves. This has nothing to do with rankings. Where else is he going to fight, where I won’t have to waste my time downloading it?
Since when did a guy have to have years worth of experience to try a sport?
Top 5 P4P D-bag on Mania.
Good point
Like I said, if Toney is serious and does work on some grappling at least and comes into these fights in shape then him facing a top striker could be fun to watch. It’s guaranteed to get a lot of attention as Toney was a decent name in boxing back in the day and would be the most high profile boxer to compete in MMA to date.
"If you’re a fight fan, I don’t know how you don’t think that that card is a great card…." Dana White on UFC 108
20%: Percentage of MMAManiacs buying UFC 108 (I guess the other 80% aren't "real fight fans" according to Dana)
LOL @ Roy Nelson not being a “good ground fighter”.
by HarmlessNinja on Dec 17, 2009 5:29 PM EST up reply actions
unless a fighter is already well rounded..
i think 41 is too old to switch to mma..yeah he has boxing skills..but really how much can you learn and change once you are that old..randy is old for a fighter but he has been a complete fighter for many years..when your best feature is KO power..just stick to boxing..
Toney has a point..
If the UFC signed Kimbo Slice, and any of the other TUF 10 people.. Than why not him? Does he make a point? Yeah i think so. Do i want to see him KO Kimbo? Only if i get to catch multiple Golden teeth from Kimbo outside the cage. Or if i witness the very first coma from a TUF 10 HW.
Judging by how people have responded
I do think James would be a huge draw.. But let’s be real, Lesnar would go for the takedown faster than Chris Johnson running the 40 (really fast). But if he was actually put in there against someone stupid enough to stand w. him it would be entertaining as shit.. I could see him knocking any HW’s head into the 4th or 5th row.
Even some stand up fighters can beat him
If you try and box with Tony yeah but Tony will have issues with leg strikes in the stand up I think bringing in more boxing fans that are not mma fans right now will be a good idea. Anyone that has a problem with this is not true mma fan boxing is one of the MMA styles and even though James is fourty he still has skills Foreman,Hendo,Couture and so on. I like this much more than a 47 year old football player gauranteed Tony would know his head off a great fight I would ike to see Tony in is against Rogers!!
but don't you get sick of one dementional fighters..
boxing is an aspect..but if that is all you are gonna bring to the table..it just seems like it’s not mixed martial arts..but a boxer trying to take the head off of an mma fighter. and all the fighters you mentioned are in their 40’s but the are complete fighters…as in well rounded.
not just leg kicks
remeber..mma stand up also involves elbows, knees, head kicks, body kicks, dirty boxing, and so much more that could nul a straightt boxer. alot of these could be used to keep a straight boxer at distance till an opening comes. fyi i used to box, used to love the sport….in a STAND UP, fight a mma fighter take a boxer everyday. they just have more tools to work with
rotog 45 is delusional.....
you can see the difference in the level of striking between say a bj penn and diego sanchez. the gulf would be wider against a quality boxer and an mma fighter. boxers know how to dirty box, and that only helps on the inside. same things with elbows and knees. the kicks would be the only thing to deter a boxer and i’m sure they would undergo SOME training for that before they jump into the cage. a boxers hands are so devastating that they would have a huge advantage in a standup fight.
p.s. toney beats liddle if the fight stays on the feet.
by Conan the Barbarian on Dec 16, 2009 6:19 PM EST reply actions
Tony will add excitement and is hard to tell how good he will be
Even though he is one dimentional sarah he’s another breed of fighter and thats what is so awsome about mma any style can be used how well will he do I think not to bad because he is very skilled striker like conan states the question he will need to answer is will he be able to keep it standing and should be training on his takedown defence more than anything. A one dimensional fighter that is great at that one dimension!
i think the important thing to remember is that toney has fought past tens of thousands of other fighters and rissen to the top of his sport.
his striking will be off the charts compared to other strikers. he obviosly will be deficient in the ground game, but he knows what it takes to win. i also think he can only make an impact at 205 or lower. he was undersized for a heavywiehgt and he is probably a natural middle weight. the one advantage that these overthehill boxers have is that they have been fighting their whole life, they have superior striking, and they are/were top athletes.
by Conan the Barbarian on Dec 16, 2009 9:21 PM EST up reply actions
Agree
If he’s committed to training he will be heavy handed threat to any fighter I hope the first guys they put him against are good strikers that prefer to stand such as Cro Cop and Kimbo. Can you imagine the hype and ratings with a Kimbo vs tony fight! Tony and kimbo both can help the UFC and MMA by drawing fans that normally don’t watch and hopefully a percentage of them will watch MMA again regardless if either fighter is fighting.
I agree with Conan
Ya anyone who thinks there’s a HW in the UFC that can mess w. Toney’s stand up is absolutely kidding themselves.. Boxers are at a much much higher level of striking overall than ANY mma fighter.. Anderson Silva included.. The sport has just been around for a lot longer and the techniques are way more refined, plus you have guys that are pretty much destined to be champions when they’re athletically talented and start boxing from the age of 5 or 6.. That sort of thing doesn’t exist in MMA at the moment.. guys have different backgrounds but none as relevant to the strike game as boxing..
by BlaiseBlaise on Dec 17, 2009 3:30 AM EST up reply actions
Another BS thread started by JH
Gimme a break, please!!
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