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UFC Confirms Couture vs Toney for Boston Gardens, a Fight for the Ages | read this item

UFC Confirms Couture vs Toney for Boston Gardens, a Fight for the Ages

April 26, 2010 � UFC Betting Staff � Jump to comments

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According to this recent article , 46-year-old UFC wrestling based cage fighting legend Randy Couture, who is affectionately known as “The Natural,” has been extremely outspoken of late in his desire to face aging boxer James “Lights Out” Toney.

The 41-year-old Toney, a champion ’90s boxer whose nick name is “Lights Out,” cleverly and successfully beamed his way into a UFC contract by effectively shining the spotlight on himself; and then literally stalking the president of the world biggest fight promotion, Dana White, at every turn; once even threatening to show up at Whites house.

Toney then employed the help of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s former boxing instructor and MMA coach Juanito Ibarra, to ready him for the surprisingly difficult transition from ring to cage.

Couture however, is in the twilight of his career, and along with UFC veterans such as Chuck Liddell and Rich Franklin, “The Natural” also seems to be firmly entrenched in involving himself with low-risk money making making fight deals—which include less dangerous, but still marketable named brand fighters, who would then, in addition, serve to “pad” his great legacy.

And in terms of two legends—from different yet similar worlds—meeting somewhere in the middle, this matchup would seem to be just what the doctor ordered.

And although it isn’t likely, a fight between two old warriors from two “sister type” combat sports—which were historically designed for young men only—could shape up in the early rounds and become an epic battle.

For fight fans however, this may not translate into the kind of entertainment to preclude a door busting stampede to the ticket booth.

Dana White, at last night’s “WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber” postfight press conference, stated that Couture vs Toney is in the final stages of preparation and would be a featured on the UFC 118 fight card.

UFC 118 is tentatively set to take place at Aug. 28 at the TD Garden in Boston, when the UFC finally makes it debut in White’s home state of Massachusetts this summer.

“It’s not a done deal yet,” White said. “But yeah, I’m working on that.”

Couture last fought to an uneventful victory over old timer and UFC Hall of Fame member Mark Coleman at UFC 109.

Toney is best know to this writer as the guy who was thoroughly humiliated by one of my favorite boxers, Roy Jones Jr, who seemed to toy with Toney during their 1994 IBF super middleweight title fight.

Toney was beaten up and floored in the third round after being hit with one of Jones’s unorthodox style ” bolo” punches.

Toney can be sure that Couture won’t toy with him, however, it would be wise for Couture not to try and stand up with the aging, yet still explosive and dangerous former “sweet science” pugilist.

The natural has a notorious suspect chin, and obvious notable flaws in his boxing defense, which include leaning down and to the right, and thus exposing his jaw when throwing his right hook, or uppercut.

A Couture flaw which Liddell, Brock Lesnar, and more recently, Big Antonio Nogueira all took full advantage of.

My prediction is for Couture, who is a respected UFC hero of mine and many others, to emerge victorious by tossing the legless Toney on his back after holding his opponent motionless against the cage, during one of his patented “wrestling style clinches.”

Result: first round TKO, Couture.

Good luck to both fighters.

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