Former pro boxer James Toney has signed a multi-fight contract to compete in the UFC. The promotion’s president, Dana White, confirmed the signing on Wednesday

Details of the contract, as well as Toney’s first bout with the promotion, were not immediately available.

The 41-year-old former IBF middleweight and super middleweight champion has publicly campaigned for a shot in the Octagon since late last year. Toney attended back-to-back UFC events in November and December, and video of White and Toney in impromptu discussions even surfaced online.

In early January, White said he was cautious of the prospect of allowing a pro boxer to enter the UFC ranks.

“(Boxer) Zab (Judah’s) like, ‘Man, you need to teach these guys how to box. You need to teach them this, that, and everything,’ but these guys don’t understand,” said White. “You don’t balance your weight the same way you balance your weight in boxing. You’ll get that front leg kicked off into the eighth row somewhere if you distribute your weight the same way they do in boxing. There’s an education process there for these guys that I learned the f---ing hard way. I went in and got choked out and kicked in the leg and all the stuff that happened to me when I started.”

White said he was unsure if promoting a pro boxer would translate well into pay-per-view buys. White was also aware of the potential backlash that could come with the move.

“I got blasted this week? Let me make this fight. Then I’ll get blasted from her to-- I’m the first guy out there going, ‘This is a f---ing freak show. Who would put on a fight like that?’” said White. “But I gotta tell you this. I’ve always wanted to see a guy--(Toney’s) a guy I actually respect. He’s tough as nails. He’s mean. He’s nasty. (But) he better get in shape if he wants to come in here and do this stuff.”

Toney’s flirtation in the UFC has been ongoing. In October 2006, former UFC champion Randy Couture said he was called by the promotion with a potential bout against the pro boxer that never came to fruition.


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Amid rabid speculation this morning that Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (5-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) may be James Toney's first octagon opponent, his manager told on Thursday afternoon that it's business as usual for the bearded brawler.

Slice, who is expected to face Matt Mitrione at UFC 113 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is absent from the promotion's official event page. But Mike Imber, Slice's longtime manager otherwise known as "Icy Mike," said his client was never on the page to begin with.

And Slice's absence does not mean he has other plans.

"I really don't think that's got anything to do with us," Imber said.

UFC president Dana White confirmed Slice's rumored fight with Mitrione at a gathering of reporters following the UFC 109 pre-fight press conference, and the bout was advertised as a part of the Montreal card as part of the recent UFC 110 broadcast.

Yesterday, White told Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports that he is still working out plans for Toney's debut and has no idea who the boxing champion will face in his first UFC fight.

However, he assured fans that he is not working the "freak show" angle he often criticizes in other promotion's matchmaking.

"I'd be the first to scream if someone else did that, so I'm not going to do it," White said.

"I don't want this to be seen as a joke, and it's not like Herschel Walker or Canseco or any of those guys. James Toney is a fighter. The worst thing anyone can ever say to me is that they were watching one of my fights and they changed the channel. That's why I'll never put [expletive] fights on."

Imber, for one, is among many who are excited to see what Toney can do in the cage. But "Icy Mike" insists his client's fight plans are unchanged.

"Kimbo would of course fight [Toney], but I think there's a lot of other guys who want to fight him now," Imber said.

Slice, 36, shot to internet stardom in 2003 for a series of unsanctioned street fights filmed for YouTube. In 2007, he signed a deal with EliteXC and drew a record U.S. television audience for his fight with James Thompson on CBS.

This past June, he signed a deal with the UFC and participated on "The Ultimate Fighter 10" which drew record ratings for UFC broadcast partner Spike TV.

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who do people think he'll get first. i reckon kimbo or buentello

i think kimbo, then roy nelson .. and if he gets past them 2, then couture

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I hope then put him in against a proper MMA'er from ther off - he gets choked and all this fook'in about gets stopped....I'm all for boxers stepping across - so long as they put the time in getting wrestling and jits up (which is gonna take a few years)...it's not 1993 and I don't want em taking the piss and making a fortune for crap fights that then puts people off the sport...Imo that will do more harm than good - if they just turn up with just boxing.

this is another hershal walker freak show, why does Dana White think is ok for the UFc to do this shit but bad when stikeforce try?

I agree man I hope he gets put down and swamped. trying to make a go of mma at his age after having 50 pro boxing fights I cant see him lasting long

Kimbo for sure!..

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In Jeevan posts it says he may have had the idea back in 2006 .... perhaps he has been learning some skills ??? 4 years long time ..... i doubt it but you never know

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Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups

he has been training for mma for a while, add to the fact he might have done wrestling at school and has a "decent" stand up

Dana is doing it because toney was in his face all the time about it, and he must have obviously said he was willing to earn his way through .. where as when roy jones wanted to fight, he wanted the top dog

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