An Open Letter to James Toney

Dear "Lights Out",

In 2003, when you battered the durable Vassiliy Jirov and a shopworn Holyfield, you were a delight to watch. A rare combination of a granite skull and slick, shoulder-rolling defense, watching you make dudes miss and make them pay deepened my love for the art of hitting and not getting hit.

Please don't fight Couture.

It's been bad enough watching you blow up like Panchito Bojado between bouts and fighting dudes like Matthew Greer.

I fail to see how your style of slipping, rolling and countering will work if Couture takes you to the ground with a single or double leg within the first 30 seconds.

It's a fight. Anything can happen. But I won't be watching, my man. I may even dust off those VHS tapes with Jirov and Holyfield and take a trip down memory lane.

All the best,

Cut

Cutman wrote:

Dear "Lights Out",

In 2003, when you battered the durable Vassiliy Jirov and a shopworn Holyfield, you were a delight to watch. A rare combination of a granite skull and slick, shoulder-rolling defense, watching you make dudes miss and make them pay deepened my love for the art of hitting and not getting hit.

Please don't fight Couture.

It's been bad enough watching you blow up like Panchito Bojado between bouts and fighting dudes like Matthew Greer.

I fail to see how your style of slipping, rolling and countering will work if Couture takes you to the ground with a single or double leg within the first 30 seconds.

It's a fight. Anything can happen. But I won't be watching, my man. I may even dust off those VHS tapes with Jirov and Holyfield and take a trip down memory lane.

All the best,

Cut

I agree - except for the part about my buddy Gator Greer. Hey, even Apollo Creed gave a tough local kid a shot at the title, right? Greer has a pocketful of memories courtesy of Lights Out...

That being said, IF Toney wins convincingly -the way Ray Mercer did, I think it's an OK thing. People will watch, and they are getting MMA weaklings like me to watch. However, if Toney is taken down in the first 10 seconds (likely) and choked out (likely) - it's rubbish. I'd much rather watch Toney fight Mark Gastineau or Mickey Rourke.

I'll give 5 to 1 on anyone that wants them some Toney

My bad. I meant Danny Batchelder, not Mr. Greer. Not slipping, it's that damn leftover Qdoba again.

And if I was in charge my name for the promotion would be "Couture vs. Toney: Two Old Dudes You Don't Want Any Part Of".

No plans to buy it now, but like Fernando Vargas is to Golden Corral, my will may weaken.

"Cutman" but like Fernando Vargas is to Golden Corral, my will may weaken

This comment made my day and reminded me of why we are friends....

FightFan's 5-1 odds are about as tempting as seeing Betty White being hammered from behind by James Toney. Actually, I'd rather see that than the fight.

I don't like to see pro boxers or sports celebs try MMA. Seems like people with a name outside MMA, want to try it. Is it a last gasp at fading fame? One things for sure. If Toney catches him coming in , well, they don't call him "lights out" for nothing.
Read somewhere some dude said Coulture would win a split decision. No way is this fight going the distance, choke out or knock out....guaranteed.

Just watched the weigh-in for UFC.
Good Lord. Or more appropriately, Good Gravy.
Toney weighed 237 and looked as soft as church music.

Cutman wrote:

Just watched the weigh-in for UFC.
Good Lord. Or more appropriately, Good Gravy.
Toney weighed 237 and looked as soft as church music.

Happened as I suspected - If it was a boxing match, Toney might have stood a chance. He looked like a fat, bald - and short Kimbo Slice...only much worse. I can't fault Toney - he made almost a million for that performace.