I just watched this for the first time on youtube. Certainly a strange fight. I certainly dont understand the MMA rules at all, and i am still not convinced that it is a 100% on the level sport. But assuming it is, Toney certainly seemed to struggle. He didnt try to move in and throw a punch, he was taken off balance easily, and he gassed out in 3 minutes, which wasnt surprising. I give him one thing, though, he took some flush shots without really blinking an eyelid. I certainly dont understand why Toney didnt throw elbows when clinched in close, or throw headbutts. I presume that choking with an open hand, and biting must be illegal. It is obvious that Toney was always going to struggle in this situation because of his style and the fact that he isnt even really a heavyweight puncher not to mention his condition. I am not sure whether one of the Klitchskos would have done any better, particularly Wladimir who, you would presume would hit much harder and with his size would have a chance of getting advantage in the clinch. Anyway, my question after seeing this forum is, if boxing had to choose a champion to fight in this type of fight, who should they choose. (leaving aside whether they would actually win or not), who would be chosen to represent the honour of boxing and would do the best. Do you think the old timer stance might be advantageous? or would it make things even worse. Would boxing be better off with an old time bareknuckle boxer like Sullivan or Corbett, or an early gloved fighter like Johnson or jeffries? Or would a modern super heavy like Lennox be the go. Would an Ali be worth thinking about, since he out clinched anyone he seen and unlike Toney he would be quick on his feet if he wanted to be? For mine, I think i would go with Mike Tyson. Modern enough that we dont need to worry about the possible evolution of the sport, brutal and confident enough that he will actually move forward and hit, and strong enough that he can outwrestle in close, if he has to. Does everyone agree that Tyson might be the best person to enter into such a competition.
A puncher with very very fast feet on the retreat. Maybe Sugar Ray Robinson or Sugar Ray Leonard. Of course, this is presuming that you are excluding anyone with a MMA background.
paul berlenbach, world light heavyweight champion and aau wrestling champion. just a year of submission defense/offense and he'd be a mma monster.
Boxers that would be competitive would be: Someone who isnt shot to pieces - Toney was and he was divisions above his prime weight Someone who is willing to learn MMA and not rely totally on boxing, being a striker is fine in MMA, but learn take down blocks and learn how to wrestle/defend on the floor. They still may well get submitted or pounded to **** on the floor by the far more skilled ground fighter but they would give themselves a shot Some who can move in and out of range, Toney was flat footed, stationary and there to be taken down A puncher who's a front runner, someone speedy and brutal like Tyson or Zab Judah could effectively end the fight early against the weak stand up game of the MMA fighter. Then again kicks are a factor here Someone who gets at least 10 MMA fights in their ledger before stepping in with a past prime ATG who is a take down and submission specialist MMA is a different sport, a boxer could succeed given the training and dedication, but just going into it as a boxer, more often than not they will lose as they don't have the dimensions to their game
If we're talking about current champions that could realistically fight in a UFC weight class and represent boxing with honor, I'd have to go with Shane Mosley at 155 (even though he doesn't have a belt currently) or Wlad. Mosley is a puncher-boxer with two-fisted power, a great chin and is as game as they come. Wlad would represent the sport with honor and he does have the size, skill and power to have MMA success. Now as far as current boxers with the best chance of having success in the UFC, I'd probably have to go with Berto(again...fighting at 155 in the UFC) or Paul Williams. Berto has the hand speed, reflexes, power, arsenal and pedigree to have serious success in the octagon...with or without grappling expertise. Williams' size and awkward angles would give UFC 155ers nightmares. Now if we're talking atgs then there can be no other answer than prime RJJ.
The Manassa Mauler, Jack Dempsey..Dempsey would be a natural for MMA.. A vicious infighter with blinding in close speed, with an anything goes attitude...And Dempsey was wrestling with sparring partners..A natural thing for Jack...
Kermit Cintron was a college level wrestler. If there is one dominant discipline in MMA, i think it's wrestling. Wrestling is kind of the lowest common denominator in fighting. You must be able to defend a leg attack. Outside of that, I'd go for athletes: Roy Jones, Whitaker. I saw a clip on youtube where Jeremy Williams tossed Lennox Lewis around in sparring with Judo moves.
U have no idea...I'm 220...I weight lift..I'm 31..boxed for years....but never wrestled...yet I have grappled with 140 pound 11th grade high school wrestler at the local mma gym and it is tough. Randy has 30 years of wrestling in his background...no boxer is throwing him around.
Yep...and he did catch as catch can wrestling while in his prime...which is submission wrestling...and he became one of the earliest americans to get a black belt in judo
Headbutts are illegal. If you don't know anything about the sport, why comment on it? No boxer is faring well against a top notch MMA fighter barring the off chance of catching them cold early with a big punch. If an MMA fighter got ballsy and tried to stand things could get sour very quickly. We saw that with Tim Sylvia against Ray Mercer. Embarassing stuff.
No, not likely. Couture has got 30 years experience in combat sports and submission wrestling. The takedown he used on Toney was basic stuff any novice learns, yet Toney was completely helpless. Now, imagine a prime Couture using his full aresenal.
even if head butts would have been legal....coulture was on top..and would have been able to deliver them much better. One handed chokes are a horrible idea..u cant really choke a grown man out with that...and a guy who knows any BJJ will arm bar your ass in a second...
Foreman might beat the likes of Couture in a "street fight" but highly unlikely he could beat him at his own sport. Tony Galento would be my pick. He rassled an Octopus. To death. That's impressive.
