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 Boxer
James Toney signs with the UFC
By Phil Lanides
 41
year-old boxing champion James “Lights Out” Toney (72-6-3, 44 KO’s)
has signed a multi-fight contract with the Ultimate Fighting
Championships. After some verbal sparring involving the boxer and
UFC President Dana White, which included Toney telling FightHype.com
just this past week that,“Dana
White is a straight up ho!,” an
agreement has been reached. The biggest hurdle appeared to be
financial. “He
makes me a five-fight offer for chump change and said I can't box
anymore if I accept it,” Toney
said to FightHype. “He
must have lost his [expletive] mind.” Apparently,
at least according to Toney’s perception, White seems to have found
it. There is no word as to whether or not “Lights Out” will be able
to continue to box, though that is highly unlikely.
FiveOuncesOfPain.com first reported the signing, citing sources
close to negotiations, and the deal has since been confirmed by
MMAFighting.com's Mike Chiappetta, who spoke with White.
Toney has begun working out with former Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
trainer Juanito Ibarra in order to prepare for his MMA debut, though
a date is unknown. Ibarra told Sherdog that he hopes Toney’s first
bout will be with Kimbo Slice, as he’d like his fighter to “get
his feet under him” in
the UFC. Toney, for his part, has been a champion in multiple weight
classes, but controversy has followed him in his career. He has
tested positive for steroids twice, in 2005 and 2007. Both
indiscretions resulted in Toney's suspension from boxing.
Several boxers have made forays into MMA in the last couple of
years. Former boxing champion Ricardo Mayorga will headline a Pay
Per View event against for UFC fighter Din Thomas on May 15th, while
heavyweight Ray Mercer has fought both Kimbo (in an amateur bout)
and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia (who he knocked out).
And while some MMA pundits don’t like boxers coming into the sport,
some do. “I
think a lot of people would pay to see [Toney fight],” UFC
heavyweight contender and The Ultimate Fighter season 10 winner Roy
Nelson recently told Steve Cofield of Yahoo! Sports.
For more from Phil
Lanides check out
http://www.examiner.com/x-9970-San-Jose-MMA-Examiner
http://www.fightofyourlife.com/
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