By James Slater – James Toney has been uncharacteristically quiet since suffering that well-publicised tap-out loss to MMA legend Randy Couture late last month. However, the trainer and manager of “Lights Out,” John Arthur, recently gave an interview with MMAjunkie.com, and he spoke about Toney’s plans for the future..
Not surprisingly, the 42-year-old is planning on fighting again – with a talked-of November 5th defence of his IBA heavyweight title being made for New Orleans – but what is surprising is the fact that Toney still wants to be a two-sport athlete. That’s right: Toney is not yet done with MMA!
According to Arthur, who spoke with MMAjunkie a few days ago, Toney “wants to do it (MMA) again,” and “he will do it again.” Only this time, it seems Dana White and the UFC organisation will have no part in it. But Arthur told the MMA website that he has had no papers telling him White wants nothing further to do with his fighter.
“Dana need to send me some release papers,” Arthur said. “If we don’t plan on fighting in the UFC, send me the release paper and we’ll take it to the next level. Once that happens, then I’ll start working on stuff. But right now, we’re focused on him defending his IBA heavyweight championship.
“He’s going to be doing groundwork and boxing. He’s going to be a two-sport athlete. The reality is that he wants to do it, and he will do it again. I think the next time I match him up, I’ll make sure I’ll match-up at least 50-50 equal. The cards were stacked against him [against Couture].”
So, we could one day see Toney getting it on, or trying to get it on, with a second MMA fighter. Arthur, who wouldn’t say who Toney will be facing in the boxing ring on November 5th (there are reportedly three possible opponents), says he will match Toney 50-50 the “next time” he fights in MMA. But are there any worthy opponents who would fit the bill? Can Toney, who looked so bad against the admittedly vastly superior Couture, beat any name MMA fighter out there? If not, then what’s the point in him going back into the cage?
Many fans on this website have urged Toney to retire, from boxing AND MMA. But Arthur says he will stick with his fighter until he sees him get really hurt.
“I’m going to roll with him – good, bad and ugly,” the trainer said. “The first day I see James getting beat up or hurt, that’s the first day he’s going to stop fighting.”
And to be fair, Toney, who reportedly earned around $500,000 for the 3-minutes and 19-seconds the bout with “The Natural” lasted, didn’t take much if any punishment on August 28th. But at his current age, and after such a long career, how much longer will the once-great boxing master be capable of fending off serious injury?
Seeing Toney back in the boxing ring is one thing, but seeing him climb back in there with any MMA fighter is something no-one wants.