Freddie Roach talks about UFC, James Toney
As the date approaches for UFC 118 when current heavyweight boxing titlist James Toney takes on former UFC champion Randy Couture, boxing insiders are weighing in on the fight, and for the most part not in Toney’s favour.
Most recently legendary trainer Freddie Roach put in his two cents. When posed with the question of whether Toney could win the fight, he said swiftly: “No. James is a good friend of mine, but he doesn’t have the ground game, and is not that big a puncher. I think the UFC is using him just to show that he can be beat by one of their guys, and that they have a better sport than we do. They are just using him as a stepping stone.”
Roach added regrettably: “I wish James wouldn’t do it. But boxing is a very important part of UFC. Nobody likes the ground game; everyone wants to see a fight. I do understand that there is a lot to the ground fight, but I am just not a big fan. I think their sport is gearing more toward stand-up rather than ground game. I have worked with most of the greats in UFC, and more are calling me for help. Best part of UFC is when they are striking.”
The comments are the last in a wave of negative ones from boxing specialists, for which Toney has expressed disdain. Legendary former light heavyweight titlist Bernard Hopkins recently said on a radio program that “James is going to get his a*s kicked,” and continued: "I believe and I'll go on record with this, the best MMA guy or UFC guy goes up against the boxer in the world, in their arena ... gets their a*s kicked. I don't care if it's Floyd [Mayweather], [Manny] Pacquiao or Bernard Hopkins. It's not what we do."
Toney is known publicly for his infamous trash talk and personality, and therefore many are speculating that he took the fight just for the attention it would offer. While it is being billed as a definitive clash between boxing and mixed martial arts, there have already been famous fights between boxers and mixed martial artists specialists. In May of 2009 Ray Mercer took on Tim Sylvia, and knocked him out cold in only nine seconds flat with a right hand. Even still, boxing enthusiasts say most of the danger rests on Toney’s shoulders.
MMA proponents argue that, while they cannot compete with boxers in terms of punching, they can defeat their opponents by getting them on the ground. Many argue with this argument. Boxers have no sense of how to outwrestle a man on the ground, or to defend against being put into a deadly submission. Likewise, as long as they are on the mat they cannot use their leverage and balance to get good punches off. As anyone who has ever boxed before can attest, balance and stance is supremely important in throwing a proper, powerful punch. Trainers speak about a ‘center of gravity,’ and when punches are thrown the whole body is pivoted slightly to go into the punch. On the ground, however, punches are thrown merely from the shoulder, where they contain little force.
At the same time, as the Mercer fight indicates, give a boxer a chance and you’re asking for trouble. If he is given proper distance to get a shot off, few alternative fighters would be able to endure the blow. What MMA fighters must avoid at all costs is playing the distance game with boxers. The trouble is getting in and being able to get their opponent to the mat.
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