By James Slater – As fans may or may not have read, James “Lights Out” Toney is soon to head back into the MMA cage. Due, he says, to being unable to land the meaningful boxing bouts he wants, the 42-year-old all-time great has just signed to face MMA legend Ken Shamrock.
Reports indicate that the fight will have a rule that stipulates how no fighter will be able to take-down the other and keep him in the floor for more than 30-seconds. The referee will intervene at the 30-sec mark, and both guys will resume a stand up fight. This figures to give 42-year-old Toney a much better chance than he had against Randy Couture back in August of last year, in what was Toney’s MMA debut (Couture needed nearly three-minutes to get his choke win over Toney).
Now in training for the Shamrock fight, Toney very kindly took time out to speak with ESB earlier today. Here is what the former middleweight, super-middleweight and cruiserweight king had to say.:
James Slater: Thanks so much for your time, Champ. It’s great to speak with a living legend! We’ve read about you facing MMA trailblazer Ken Shamrock in an MMA fight – is it signed or are you still in talks?
James Toney: As far as I know, it’s a done deal. The only way the fight won’t happen is if he don’t show. But I love Ken Shamrock, he’s beautiful and I’m pretty sure he’ll come to fight. Because I am ready, baby! All these boxers, they’re scared to fight me; so I’m going back to MMA to get a fight.
the main reason you are going back into the cage, because none of the guys you want in boxing will fight you?
J.T: Yes, these guys are clowns! You’ve got David “Gaye” and Wladimir “Bitschko,” who are gonna earn millions all because Gaye can talk trash. They call him a great trash-talker, but I’m THE BEST trash-talker on the planet! He [Haye] did some shit with a T-shirt and he talked his way into a million dollar fight! That’s nothing- I called Klitschko’s mom a b**ch and his sister too, and they don’t wanna fight me. How come? I did everything I could to get those two sisters into the ring.
J.S: This fight with Shamrock, I read there is a rule that stipulates there can be no takedowns that last more than 30-seconds. In other words, after 30-secs the ref will call break and you both get back to stand up action. Does that mean you’ll both have a real, stand up fight?
J.T: Exactly. And they put that [rule] in there, not me. I’m a gladiator, I’ll fight anywhere, anyhow. Everyone knows I had problems going into the Randy Couture fight, but the mother f****r never came to fight anyhow. He scored that bullshit takedown. That will never happen again. We offered Randy more money for a rematch and he said no. But Shamrock; he’ll come to fight – I hope, anyway!
J.S: And the fight will be in Texas?
J.T: El Paso, Texas – yes. October 1st.
J.S: I must admit, I don’t know too much about Ken Shamrock, other than he’s an MMA legend. What do you know about him, James?
J.T: All I know is he’s down as a legend in MMA as you say, but that stuff don’t mean anything to me. Boxing is a real sport! You have to be retired for five years before you can go in to The Hall of Fame in boxing. In this sport and in wrestling, they put you in straight away and that’s bullshit! There will be no wrestling in this fight; this will be real combat!
J.S: Will the rounds be five-minute rounds and will you be wearing four-ounce gloves?
J.T: 5-minute rounds and four-ounce gloves, yes. This is a challenge for him and he will be put to sleep. I don’t need no big name trainer to get me ready for this fight; I am ready! Can’t no name trainer teach me anything new anyway.
J.S: Your last fight in boxing, you beat Damon Reed via shut-out in Feb. But you said yourself you were not in great shape for that. Will you be in better shape for the Shamrock fight?
J.T: What people don’t know is, I had a thyroid problem going into that fight. I trained hard, running 4 to 5 miles a day and I felt good. But I make no excuses; I’ll be in better physical condition next time.
J.S: What are you expecting Shamrock to weigh for this fight?
J.T: I have no idea because I’ve never even see him…
J.S: You’re fighting a guy you’ve never seen fight! That’s a warrior attitude….
J.T: That’s right, I’m old-school. I’ll fight anyone. All these guys, they never fight James Toney the way they say they will. They can’t walk the walk, they run!
J.S: Are you expecting to score a KO over Shamrock?
J.T: I know I’ll knock him out. Trust me.
J.S: And will there be T.V coverage of this fight?
J.T: It will be Pay-Per-View.
J.S: And after this fight, even if you win in style, will you be back in the boxing ring?
J.T: Oh yeah. I’m gonna be heavyweight champ! I’m the only champ that matters anyway: James Lights Out Toney, the IBA heavyweight champ. When these Bitschkos retire next year, I’ll get the division back up again. See, there’s me, Tommy Hearns, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson and Ezzard Charles – we are the only champions from here that ever matter!
J.S: Thanks so much for your time, J.T. And best wishes for the October fight.
J.T: Thank you and God bless.