Juanito Ibarra Says James Toney Is "Like a Sponge", Wants Him to Face Kimbo Slice This June
by Anton Tabuena on Mar 15, 2010 2:27 AM EDT
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Juanito Ibarra is the man tasked with the difficult role of trying to shape a world class boxer into a mixed martial arts fighter. Not only does he have to change the few aspects of boxing that aren't suitable in striking for MMA, but he also has the task of making a guy like James Toney learn the other aspects of the sport like wrestling, and jiu jitsu. -- and he has to make him learn quickly.
The former trainer of Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, talked to Sherdog about James Toney's progress:
"I have a very very good feeling and confidence that James Toney is going to be something to reckon with in MMA... Since we've started training seriously in the last couple of weeks, his bad habits have gone away like magic. I know people doubt it. I'm telling you it's like giving candy to a baby. This guy is a sponge... This kid threw a headkick at me the other day and it didn't shock me for the bad. It shocked me just to know that his flexibility is getting there. Some people have a different opinion or no comment on it but this guy's a born fighter."
"Why I'm excited to work with James is because he's a born fighter. He's one of these raw guys that this guy is like a sponge. He wants to learn everything. He wants to learn everything in one day. He can't. Rome wasn't built in one day... He's not going to be a black belt in jiu-jitsu. He's not going to be an NCAA wrestler. It doesn't take a genius to figure this stuff out. But I'll tell you what, he's going to be prepared to fight MMA when he steps in the cage."
"I'll tell you it's like teaching a kid that just tasted candy and he likes the flavor and he's tasting it and he wants more. That's all the guy does is train. Three times a day. Seven days a week. I have to take a day off. I have to go to church. But that guy is in the gym seven days right now."
Ibarra is optimistic that a fight against Kimbo Slice will happen on Toney's debut fight, then maybe a fight against Tito Ortiz or Chuck Liddell next:
"I'd like to see him start off at heavyweight and move to 205. Some people may laugh but James can do it. He's the guy that can do it. His age or not. He's a guy that can do it."
"I'd like to see James fight hopefully June, July the latest... that's what we'd like to see because you have to put in the work. But we'll fight Kimbo after his fight. And then we'd like to move on and there's guys like Chuck (Liddell), who's been learning jiu-jitsu and I respect Chuck ultimately. I love that guy and I like the way he fights. You've got him and Tito (Ortiz) fighting and who knows maybe down the road at the end of the year we'll fight the winner of that fight and keep moving up."
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I still don't understand why Toney hooked up with Ibarra.....
It’d be like Maia hooking up with Eddie Bravo….nothing wrong with either coach but you’d think you’d work with a coach that could do something with your weakness right?
Whatever has been said about Ibarra aside he’s a pretty good coach to have on your team but I can’t see where Toney would need any sort of boxing advice. At least he knows Toney is at a disadvantage though and wants Kimbo.
Though Kimbo could rise to “greatness” (I use that loosely) by submitting two former boxing icons. It could be the UFCs answer to Saku being the Gracie hunter :)
The only thing I can think of is that he wanted someone that knew the boxing side to help him adjust his standup for MMA.
And an important thing it is. If he doesn’t know how to mmabox he squanders his only chance to have some sort of edge.
by ununkvadrium on Mar 15, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe he is like a sponge
as smart as one mayhaps? Who knows. Every trainer says this shit. Dana does PromoterTalk, trainers do TrainerTalk.
by Patrick John McGreevy on Mar 15, 2010 2:37 AM EDT reply actions
Toney former heavyweight boxer no ground game we know of. Kimbo slice mediocre fighter he just beat housten alexander. I dont really see the freakshow aspect.
Toney/Kimbo isn't happening for two reasons.
1) Why put both moneymakers on the same card? Spread them out to boost anemic ones.
2) Kimbo is one of the UFC’s biggest draws, but all he has is boxing, and Toney is much better at it. He’ll lose, and there’s no point in making him damaged goods among the casual fans. Keep milking that cow…
New Orleans Saints - 2010 Super Bowl Champions. Unbelievable. Who Dat.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Mar 15, 2010 2:39 AM EDT reply actions
To be fair,
if Toney was to debut on June or July, (probably against a name fighter) that would also mean he’s debuting along side the promotion’s biggest stars, Chuck/Tito or BROCKLESNAR.
also, Kimbo has lost to Seth P, and Roy Nelson, and also looked like crap against James Thompson, yet his stock hasn’t been damaged and is still the most watched fighter in MMA history… I doubt it will get that much worse, if he loses to Toney.
by Anton Tabuena on Mar 15, 2010 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions
"Kimbo[...]all he has is boxing"
Attitudes like this are what is going to make Kimbo Slice by Submission (Arm Triangle) that much sweeter.
Can i do mma too? Please dana
"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar
by pitbull187 on Mar 15, 2010 2:44 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
It saddens me that Tom Kenny went from Mr. Show to Spongebob Squarepants.
New Orleans Saints - 2010 Super Bowl Champions. Unbelievable. Who Dat.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Mar 15, 2010 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions
don’t sully the name of spongebob, I used to think it was stupid too, but since having a kid, and watching spongebob with him, I’ll say it is easily the best childrens cartoon of today, well written and very funny, unlike some of thevery stupid cartoons of today.
by kanodogg on Mar 15, 2010 10:39 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Kimbos in trouble
Against Matt Mitrione. I think he is getting knocked out. Matt has the advantage no matter where it goes. I think Kimbo would have to use his speed in order to win against Matt and even then, it’s a long shot.
agreed matts a bad match up i mean he knocked out the darkness lol. Toney would kill him
"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar
I agree with you I think Matt should win that fight.
For all his whining and babbling, he is quite the athlete and has a lot of power in his hands. If he solves the conditioning and attitude problems he had on TUF he may be the best prospect to come out of the show.
Obviously he has a lot of learning to do, and i s at a disadvantage because he isn’t an experienced striker, wrestler, or BJJ guy, but physically he is a beast. If he wins, throw him in there against Toney. If “Meathead” has developed any sort of takedowns, he should be able to lay waste to Toney pretty quickly.
Toney did a highkick at the same time I was turning down Megan Fox for being too ugly
at sleepy time.
I'm the best ever. You're the most average in a minute.
And NEW UFC Welterweight Champion of the World.....Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy!
by slapjaw ackrite on Mar 15, 2010 3:06 AM EDT reply actions
Newsflash:
The fighter who pays me to train him is very, very good.
Also, in order to maximize his earnings and mine, he should fight two of the biggest draws in the sport.
That this will increase my income in no way is related to what I am saying.
Thank you for your time.
by Django Z on Mar 15, 2010 3:42 AM EDT reply actions 5 recs
how in the hell could kimbo fight toney in june or july
when he gone fight and beat mitrione in may.. just cuz crooked ass juanito Ibarra wants the fight to happen dont mean it actually gone happen..
“This kid threw a headkick at me the other day and it didn’t shock me for the bad. It shocked me just to know that his flexibility is getting there. Some people have a different opinion or no comment on it but this guy’s a born fighter.”
I’m a Rampage fan, but that’s sadly 1 head-kick more than Rampage has ever thrown.
The funny thing is...
In one of his vids calling out dana he said kicking is for girls.
Google Ron Paul!
Of course he does...
…that’s a GREAT first fight for Toney. It’s both a marketable fight AND someone he can beat in his debut.
Sigh...can't believe I am saying this...but, I'd take Kimbo at this point.
Kimbo, at least, seems to have a respect for all aspects of the game…whereas Toney seems to think he can avoid the ground game simply by calling it names.
"Chuck, who's been learning jiu jitsu"
Err, Juanito? Chuck’s been “learning” BJJ for a looooooong time.
by Scott Haber on Mar 15, 2010 8:56 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
"A Sponge" vs. "Like a Sponge"
Interesting match-up!
Faber, Florian, Nick Diaz, 'Mayhem', Mousasi, Fedor
I think Kimbo would treat Toney the same way he did Mercer. I know most people thought Mercer was going to knock his head off. He rushed in and took him down. Wasn’t much to the fight. Not saying Toney would react the same but people think Kimbo is going to be stupid and stand with him the whole time. I think Kimbo is plenty content with getting him on the ground and beating him up.
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