Everyone knows I've been tough on the UFC, but one place in which i think the assumptions of many MMA guys will prove true is where it comes to lighter weight Boxers.
I'm thinking particularly of guys like Ricardo Mayorga, who WILL be fighting, and Floyd Mayweather, who will never go in but who everyone always brings up in these kinds of discussions.
The speed difference of HW Boxers and HW MMA guys will always make things so that a HW Boxer, properly trained, can be a threat. It's the size of the fighters that makes this possible. It's more difficult to move out of the way of blows at their size.
Personally I think Toney could be a threat with a year of the right kind of training. He wouldn't be training to outgrapple anyone, he would be training to become proficient enough in take down defense, that when the fight got close, he could get a second to plant himself and land to: the ribs, solar plexus etc.
One of the key strategic truths here will be that Boxers in order to hope to be successful in MMA are going to have to depend on body shots, not head shots.
Believe me, one clean shot straight into the ribs in those 4 ounce gloves and these guys are out. Toney's old nemesis Roy Jones once broke a fighters ribs (Virgil Hill) with ONE such punch that was of course cushioned in big red fluffy gloves.
The HW can make it if they dedicate themselves enough, the Welters are going to be eaten for breakfast.
I'm thinking particularly of guys like Ricardo Mayorga, who WILL be fighting, and Floyd Mayweather, who will never go in but who everyone always brings up in these kinds of discussions.
The speed difference of HW Boxers and HW MMA guys will always make things so that a HW Boxer, properly trained, can be a threat. It's the size of the fighters that makes this possible. It's more difficult to move out of the way of blows at their size.
Personally I think Toney could be a threat with a year of the right kind of training. He wouldn't be training to outgrapple anyone, he would be training to become proficient enough in take down defense, that when the fight got close, he could get a second to plant himself and land to: the ribs, solar plexus etc.
One of the key strategic truths here will be that Boxers in order to hope to be successful in MMA are going to have to depend on body shots, not head shots.
Believe me, one clean shot straight into the ribs in those 4 ounce gloves and these guys are out. Toney's old nemesis Roy Jones once broke a fighters ribs (Virgil Hill) with ONE such punch that was of course cushioned in big red fluffy gloves.
The HW can make it if they dedicate themselves enough, the Welters are going to be eaten for breakfast.
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