James Toney’s Big Debut on Saturday

Heavyweight boxer fights MMA’s Randy Couture!

Boxer James “Lights Out” Toney wants to prove that “the lights are still on and somebody’s home” when he takes on mixed martial arts icon Randy “The Natural” Couture Saturday night on the “UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2” card at the TD Garden in Boston.

Will it be a Beat Down in Bean Town for the sweet scientist versus wrestler?

This marquee matchup is Boxing vs. MMA.

It’s the ultimate Cage vs. Ring contest.

It’s Stand Up vs. Ground and Pound.

It’s Randy at 6′ 1″ vs. James at 5′ 10″.

It’s age 47 (Couture) vs. age 42 (Toney just celebrated his birthday on Tuesday).

It’s the former UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Champ vs. the cigar-smoking, colorful six-time World Titlist with a 72-6-3 and 44 KOs record.

Expect the fans to cheer on these champs, even though Couture remains the big favorite.

I listened in on the Couture-Toney media teleconference a couple of weeks ago as the buzz was rapidly building toward this weekend’s exciting Pay-Per-View showdown from Boston, which will coincide with the UFC Fan Expo.

During the interviews, Toney said he knows he’s the underdog, the guy wearing the proverbial “black hat” in the bout. He stated he’s used to being pegged the “bad guy” and that it doesn’t phase him. “Ain’t nothin’ new to me,” he commented about squaring off against his taller and legendary foe. “If they boo me, I’ll love it!”

And the fighter from Michigan says his loyalty is still with the sport of pure pugilism, “I’m an old-school fighter; boxing is the best sport. Period.”

During the phone conference, Toney was his usual irreverent and humorous self, cracking jokes and remaining confident in his abilities, even though he is the underdog in this battle against a world-renowned legend. “Don’t bet your money!” he warns. “Don’t bet on Randy–I’ll tell you that!”

The slugger has scored victories over many names throughout his boxing career including Evander Holyfield, Fres Oquendo, Vassiliy Jirov, Mike McCallum, Iran Barkley, and Michael Nunn, among others. And now he’s entering the world of MMA. Toney also admits to being cocky, brash and braggadocious while adding, “But they can’t beat me.”

“I’m winning. Point blank. Hands down,” he added. Toney, whose boxing promoter is Goossen Tutor Promotions, said he’s been training for over five months to make the transition.

His opponent and “The Expendables” star stated, “James has a unique boxing style.” And Couture confirmed he’s been working with a “plethora of boxers over the last ten weeks.”

The MMA superstar also said it’s not a risk in combining boxing and MMA stars, and that their matchup can combine both sports and bring new fans into it. There is no denying that crossover appeal as UFC continues to gain popularity among the masses.

Boxer Ray Mercer and football player Herschel Walker both had recent forays into mixed martial arts. And two other boxing stars, Hasim Rahman and Ricardo Mayorga, have also expressed interest in entering the octagon. And in the reverse category, Kimbo Slice has reportedly just signed with Gary Shaw to step into the world of boxing.

But for now it’s James Toney’s turn as he tackles one of Ultimate Fighting Championship’s best known and most beloved fighters ever in Randy Couture. They will be featured in the co-main of the Frankie Edgar vs. BJ Penn rematch.

I asked a boxer, an MMA fighter, a veteran boxing trainer, and a ring announcer (in both boxing and mixed martial arts) to share their opinions about this weekend’s contest.

First up was female fighter and amateur star Seniesa Estrada, 18, who literally grew up around Los Angeles-area gyms. “I think James Toney is a strong puncher and he’s a really smart fighter…but I haven’t seen him on the ground so I don’t know what he can do once Randy gets him down!” the talented teen tells me. “But hopefully he’s good on the ground, who knows? I’m going for Toney! He’s got that knockout short right hand, so hope that he lands that good!”

Second on the list is MMA fighter and boxing photographer Jose Luis “Pollo” Hernandez, 23. “I love a matchup of a world-class boxer and a world-class MMA fight,” he says. “James Toney is one of my favorite fighters of all time…but he has the wrong boxing style for MMA. He rolls the shoulder, moves his hips and head. Sure, he is difficult to hit in boxing but if Toney carries over the same boxing stance, he will be easy to takedown!”

Hernandez, who will be fighting in October, further assessed, “James has been working on his takedown defense, but it takes a lot longer than six months to master. Who win win? Well, James has the ‘puncher’s chance’ and thats about it. Randy is the the well-rounded fighter, and I see him winning the fight in the first. I see Randy shooting in on Toney and if James Toney defends the takedown, Randy will tie up to stay tight on Toney and work a takedown off a clinch. That being said, Randy is the huge favorite–but I am a huge James Toney fan and rooting for him all the way. Prove me wrong, James!”

Thirdly, read on for the most critical opinion yet. Kenny Weldon, a well-known trainer in the Houston boxing scene, is never one to mince words. When I asked the boxing purist for his thoughts on the Toney-Couture fight, he gave me a rapid-fire answer. “It makes me sick! Toney’s has zero footwork and lousy hand speed. He rolls his shoulder, drops his hands and he’s lazy–my Mama can hit James Toney!”

It must be noted here that Weldon has been in the corner with Evander Holyfield many times and Toney did score a TKO over “Holy” back in 2003.

That said, the well-regarded trainer, who has coached countless amateur champs, Olympians and professional world titlists, continues, “Maybe Toney will get lucky and hit him once or twice, but he is not a representative of the sweet science. He is a representative of James Toney only.”

“MMA is a great sport,” Weldon offers in appreciation of mixed martial arts. “It’s a great combination of many combative arts. But James Toney is not the reason. And if Couture has anything left at all, he will beat James Toney!”

And finally, here’s ring announcer Sonny Franco’s fan-friendly thoughts on Saturday’s collision. The emcee has held the mike in both boxing and MMA events. He just returned from Texas with Chuck “Iceman” Liddell for a Richard Steele MMA show earlier this month and was also in center ring last Friday night at the Thompson Boxing card. He is frequently around both sports and shares his thoughts on the two.

“Two of the hardest hitting fighters are about to collide in what promises to be an action packed war,” Franco enthuses. “Only in our great country can you see fighters crossing over into the sport of mixed martial arts from different disciplines such as wrestling and boxing–and be supported by the awesome fight fans the world around! Open the history books and ‘Let the Battles Begin!'”

Let the battle between boxing and MMA begin.

Will YOU be watching?

Photo by Big Joe Miranda