DWhite and James Toney wanna fight.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/1/5/1234858/dana-white-cant-be-serious-aboutNo MMA promotion is free from criticism as it relates to the booking of freakshow fights. Not all leagues are equally guilty of the practice, but the slippery slope of defining "freakshow" arguably causes all leagues to be culpable on some level. However, of every promotion, the UFC is defensibly the least likely today to book a fight outside of the parameters of ethical, competitive sporting standards.
So why on earth is Dana White saying he's intrigued about James Toney fighting in his prestigious organization? To wit:
"Yes, I’m interested," said White.
In a closed door meeting between White and Toney with only four other people including myself and videographer Don Avila present on Saturday night, the two representatives of the largest fight worlds hashed out early details to see if a fight between a noted pro boxer and MMA fighter is sensible.
"I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think it made sense," said White. "There are a lot of guys out there from boxing that call me but it never made sense. You’re a guy I respect."
...
It’s Toney’s willingness to fight anybody at any time that intrigues White, who has always abhorred most of professional boxing’s penchant for not making matches that make sense.
"You’re a mean, nasty, f-----g dude. I’ve been a James Toney fan for a long time. No BS," said White who cleared out his personnel from UFC’s make-shift office below the MGM Garden Arena to have the impromptu meeting late Saturday night. "Yes I’m interested. I’m interested in doing this and I’ve been talking to my partner Lorenzo (Fertitta) about it and we’re both interested in it. The hard part is I’m the one always talking sh*t about people who put together a freak show."
Indeed. Which makes the choice of Toney a strange one. While Toney did have a rebound year in 2003, he's hardly looked impressive since. His win over Ruiz was turned into a no contest for popping for steroids, his bout with Rahman was stopped early due to an accidental headbutt and he lost twice to Samuel Peter. In addition to the Ruiz bout, he's battled other steroid suspensions and an inability to convince either Klitschko brother to fight him. Here's how Scott Christ of Bad Left Hook sums up the 41-year old Toney as a potential UFC fighter:
Toney is of course rather old, and looked quite poor in his last major (loosely used term) fight against Fres Oquendo in December 2008. He did return leaner than he's been in years in September against Matthew Greer (12-6, 11 KO) and stopped Greer in two. I don't doubt Toney's ambition, but I wouldn't say I'd like his chances against anyone good.
Then there's the obvious issue of what sort of MMA training Toney has or will seek out. We also have to wonder if there's an athletic commission willing to allow a fighter of this age with this little amount of experience to be sanctioned in a fight with a presumably competent UFC-level MMA fighter.
With White, we don't know if this is all posturing. One assumes a James Toney vs. X UFC Fighter would be financially lucrative, but I don't get the sense White is willing to spend any of the positive equity he's put in the Bank of Ethical Matchmaking. I'd be absolutely shocked if White made a deal with Toney and as of today, he has absolutely no reason to do so.
