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Boxing champ James Toney has been a hot topic for mixed martial arts fans from the moment his recent UFC signing was made official.
What seemed a mere curiosity as Toney followed UFC president Dana White around the country – begging for a shot in the octagon – quickly turned into a potential game-changing acquisition.
But is the UFC supporting a freak show? Or can Toney prove boxing's value in MMA?
And whom exactly is Toney going to fight?
On the newest edition of HDNet's "Inside MMA," the 41-year-old boxer said he doesn't want any pushover; in fact, he'd be comfortable starting with UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.
"I want Brock Lesnar," Toney said. "I'm the heavyweight champion of the world vs. the UFC champion. That'd be a hell of a match."
And if Lesnar's not in the cards, Toney said there's a few other guys he wouldn't mind facing.
"Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, or whatever his name is," Toney said. "It doesn't matter. I'm not a sideshow. This is the real deal here."
While Toney's signing has already been officially announced, when and where he'll debut for the organization has not. Liddell and Ortiz, opposing coaches on ****e TV's soon-to-debut "The Ultimate Fighter 11," are expected to face off this June, though Couture and Lesnar are currently without opponents.
Toney began boxing professionally in 1989 and fought as light as 155.5 pounds. As his career progressed, he fought as heavy as 237 pounds in 2006. In his most recent outing, a September 2009 TKO win over Matthew Greer, Toney weighed in at 217.5 pounds.
Toney insists he has the utmost respect for the sport of mixed martial arts, but he believes it's time MMA fighters develop more respect for boxing.
"I never said nothing less about the sport," Toney said. "But when you come disrespect the man who's 20 years deep and has won 12 different title in six different weight divisions and say MMA sport is better boxing, you got to be kidding me."
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