We have all heard or been a part of the debate of Boxing versus the MMA. Which is more popular? Who has the superior combatants? But boxing is fading, the MMA is taking over. No way, boxing has a greater tradition and the MMA is a fad. And the mother of them all, who would defeat whom when it comes down to a boxer versus an MMA fighter. And now with this weekend?s upcoming match up between the former four division world boxing champion James Toney 72-6-3 (44), and the five-time UFC champion Randy Couture 18-10, it has fight fans buzzing around the water cooler. And the debate rages on, who is superior, a boxer, or an MMA fighter?
Well, let?s break this down; you have a solidified boxer, a talented tactician when it comes down to the ?sweet science? (Toney), versus an all around multitalented Greco-Roman wrestler, in a competition that favors the MMA fighter (Couture). All though there is stand up in the cage, you have completely taken the boxer out of his element, and thrown him into an environment that he is not accustomed too.
Lighter gloves, kicks, take downs, ground and pound, and submissions, so whom would you favor in this shindig between James Toney and Randy Couture?
As a fan of both sports, and all though you can never count a fighter out, I don?t think teaching Toney a few take downs, or a little defense from the take downs, will be up to par against a guy who has lived and breathed wrestling most of his living days. We all know James Toney is a future hall of famer when it comes to boxing, boxing fans know that he is a suburb counter puncher, as well as terrific when it comes to trash talk. But I honestly feel James Toney may have talked himself into an ass whipping when he steps in the cage against Randy Couture at UFC 118.
But as a boxing/MMA fan, I think the buck shouldn?t stop here, the fight between Toney vs. Couture, should not end in the cage, however the outcome, the two fighters should face off again at a later date in the boxing ring. Let?s take Couture out of his game, throw him into deep water and see if he can swim. Sure you can teach him some bob and weaves, slip the jab, throw in some fades, and I will bet he still wouldn?t last six rounds with James Toney in the square ring.
The president of the UFC called the bout between Toney and Couture a ?freak show?. Why? It seems as if White may be trying to down play the fight, because Toney is a boxer and never competed in the no holds barred sport. We know that Dana feels the UFC is superior to any fighting organization boxing or non boxing, but why not, you have to sell your product, and White has done great with the marketing of the UFC. Most people are aware that the die hard boxing fans smash talk the MMA, as most know that the MMA side does the same as well. But honestly, with both sides squawking at one another over which is better, we should all come to realize that both sports have its high and low points.
Earlier I said that the buck shouldn?t stop here, if Toney losses to Couture this weekend, the UFC fans will be screaming I told you so, if the two face off in the ring and James comes out victorious as I believe he would, then of course the boxing fans will be hooping and hollering the same sentiment.
The only way to stop this arguing is to go three out, cage, ring, then let?s go straight up old school Mad Max Beyond Thunder Dome, two men enter one man leave kind of crazy. And I don?t think the fighters, the promoters, nor the commissions are ready for that style of throwing down.
So the debate continues, and will most likely march on as fans of both sides defend one another. I am not counting out James Toney; anything can happen at the sound of the bell, but in my opinion, if that matters much at all, taking a man out of his element and throwing him in to the fire is not a way to settle a dispute. All though I honestly enjoy both sports, and this fight is causing a stir with the media and gaining publicity, I must say, to the fans of the MMA, there will still be a dispute amongst both parties, because a loss for James Toney is not a win for the UFC.
