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Boxer Chris Arreola says ‘boxing vs. UFC’ theme is disrespectful, challenges Brock Lesnar to fight him in a boxing ring

By Zach Arnold | August 28, 2010

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FightHub TV has a compilation of thoughts from various personalities in the boxing world about tonight’s UFC 118 fight James Toney and Randy Couture. The one who seems the most annoyed by it all is Chris Arreola, who sounded disgusted about the whole situation.

GARY SHAW

Good idea for James Toney? “Look, I don’t plan anybody’s life out. If James wants to, and I like James a lot, if he wants to try MMA, then God Bless. But he needs to be in against the Kimbo Slices, the guys where he stands and he uses his skills as a boxer. He’s way too old to develop all the skills of these real good MMA guys. Impossible.”

RICARDO MAYORGA

“He’s got a right to fight. A great opportunity to fight in the UFC and I’m happy for him. He was a great champion.”

VICTOR ORTIZ

“It’s interesting, bro. James is no joke, man. I don’t really know. I have nothing to say on that. They’re just two different sports, man. I can’t really combine them.”

Do you think he could have some success? “Throwing punches, why not? I mean, shoot, anything’s possible, bro. It’s a fight, man.

JIMMY LENNON JR.

How do you comment on a situation like that? “Ooh. You know… I’m the last person who wants to insult James Toney. First of all, I hate to admit it, but when he fought Holyfield and Holyfield was doing quite well then and he just destroyed Holyfield. I was embarrassed that I thought, Holyfield, I joined a lot of other people. So I tend to not bet against James Toney. Also, he’s a friend of mine and he gives me a hard time if I ever say anything negative about him. But you know any boxer who goes into MMA has an obvious, huge disadvantage. I mean, let’s not fool ourselves at all. Because we know a good grappler is just going to take him, a submission artist, so it all has to do with the takedown defense. Can you learn that in a short amount of time? No. I mean, I just don’t see how any boxer can do that. If they had a great background in wrestling as a youngster or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu somehow, perhaps. But… it’s, you know, I think we all know that’s an uphill battle.”

CHRIS ARREOLA

Opinion on Toney in UFC? “You know… I wish him all the luck, man, but it’s two different beasts, you know? It’s very… I don’t even know what to say, man. I do wish him the best. It’s two different beasts, man, it’s going to be hard for him to adjust to the MMA style, all the grappling, all the styles that they have to do. You could do the same, you bring an MMA fighter in the boxing ring, he won’t last. And it’s the same in the cage if you bring a boxer to a cage, I don’t know how he’s going to do, man. I wish him all the luck. On the stand-up, he’s the best, he’s going to be the best in MMA. So people ain’t going to want to stand up with him. They’re going to try to take him to the ground so I hope he’s got all that ready to go, man, but you know I wish him all the luck, I like the dude. I still believe he’s a great boxer and he still has a chance to do something in the Heavyweight division.”

Boxing community pumped for the fight: “Yeah, you know, of course I got his back regardless, man, but you know I kind of feel it’s kind of… it’s kind of disrespectful, man. What’s going to happen, like, let’s just say you know it doesn’t, he doesn’t succeed in every MMA person is going to be like, see, he can’t cut it, he couldn’t cut it, every guy that knows MMA is going to be saying that boxing is nothing compared to MMA. You know, let’s do the same. Why don’t you bring Brock Lesnar in the boxing ring with myself or any of the Klitschko Brothers. Bring Brock Lesnar into boxing, let’s see what happens to him. He’ll get knocked the [expletive] out. It’s two different beasts, man, you can’t compare one to the other, it’s apples and oranges.”

BABALU’S BOXING TRAINER JUSTIN FORTUNE

“Randy’s tough. He’s a tough natural [expletive] Light Heavyweight at 205 pounds and he fights Heavyweight. He lives clean, he diets well, he knows what he’s doing, he’s an Olympian, he’s beaten… Jesus, this guy can fight. And his hands have picked up decently, not to the level of James Toney but then I don’t think James has ever experienced someone like Couture. If he gets a hold of you, if he grabs you, you’re done. This guy’s a wrestler. When wrestlers [expletive] grab a hold of you, they’re strong motherf******, dude. That’s all Randy does, he’s a wrestler. It’s tough to say, with 4 ounce gloves if James gets one on his chin because James is ridiculously accurate, you know I think it’s trouble for Randy but if Randy kicks him and takes him to the floor, it’s all over for James. General consensus is that most people think James has jumped out of his league on this one, but you know… 4 ounce gloves, anything can happen as we say, so…”

PEPPER GOMEZ

“James Toney’s fighting MMA… James Toney’s the best boxer I’ve ever met in my life. He has 75 fights, he has 72 wins, OK? He’s a great world champion. He’s a Middleweight to Heavyweight, no one could touch him. Fighting Randy Couture, Randy Couture is a great MMA guy. James… I don’t know. I hope for the best because James is a [expletive] great guy. If you meet James Toney you’ll like him, he’s a good guy. I heard he’s doing good in jiu-jitsu. Kick ass, James, show him what boxing’s all about. James is the best.”

SHANE MOSLEY

“I think it’s a good idea. I think it’s good and I can’t wait to see what happens. So, good luck to him!”

Topics: Boxing, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 13 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

13 Responses to “Boxer Chris Arreola says ‘boxing vs. UFC’ theme is disrespectful, challenges Brock Lesnar to fight him in a boxing ring”

  1. 45 Huddle says:

    The idea of boxers asking MMA fighters to compete in a boxing match makes no sense.

    In a boxing fight, only the boxer can use all of his tools.

    In a MMA fight, both the boxer AND the MMA fighter can use all of their tools.

    MMA is the more even platform for the fight.

    • matthew says:

      Even so, I think that anyone with half of a brain knows that these are two diffrent beasts, and I dont think it fair that people say Boxer cant do mma when we all know 99% of mma fighters would not rise above the level of club fighter in boxing. Love Anderson but if he fought RJJ now, The RJJ who is shot, kaputsville, done like a 2$ steak, ina boxing match he would get worked.

      • Jarrad says:

        Wait wait wait – it has been known for the past 5 years or longer that most of the “next big fighters” of boxing have been going to every other sport. For example, many heavy weights rather do football or try their shot at MMA. Hell, Pac Man doesnt even have any competition in his weight class .. thats how terrible and slim the pickins have gotten for boxing because other sports are a bit more attractive pay wise and pain wise.

  2. TV Time Limit says:

    Mr. Arreola, it’s kinda direspectful when a hard working guy or girl spends $100.00 for a boxing ticket and one of the main eventers shows up 25lbs over weight.

    James Toney showing up at the weigh ins looking like Abdulah the Butcher is disrespectful to both boxing and MMA.

  3. Mr. Roadblock says:

    I’m not sure Arreola would beat Brock in a boxing match.

    I’m a giant boxing fan (prefer it to MMA) but Arreola is exactly what’s wrong with boxing. I’m not sure he’d stay busy enough to beat Brock if Brock had adequate time to prepare.

  4. Steve4192 says:

    The thing Arreola doesn’t get is that the vast majority of MMA fighters and fans are under no illusions about how an MMA guy would do in a boxing ring against a world class opponent. We admit that a boxing specialist is very likely to beat an MMA guy in a boxing match. We understand that a guy who spends 100% of his time training his hands is going to better at using them than a guy who spends 33% of his training time wrestling, another 33% on submissions, and then spends whatever remains on training his hands, shins, elbows, and knees.

  5. robthom says:

    Lol @ areola.

    I wonder if this nipple person could beat the Brock in a bar or street fight.

    Without any rules, Don Kings or boxing judges.

    Thats why I prefer MMA, its more realistic.

    A closer approximation to how things would really happen.

    • Mr. Mike says:

      What do you mean by a street fight?

      In a street fight with social rules, Brock would have the advantage. If they were two guys at a party, or in line for pizza with lot’s of witnesses, your correct, but what about in a back alley, or alone somewhere?

      In that type of street fight, a typical tough guy being tackled by Lesnar would likely shove his finger in Brock’s eye socket, or use a knife on the ground.

      • robthom says:

        “What do you mean by a street fight?”

        Mano y Mano.

        No holds barred.

        An unarmed fight without rules to survive.

        Would nipple’s boxing skills enable him to bob and weave and feint and shoulder roll so snazzy that the Brock wouldn’t be able to bullrush him, snatch him, pin and immobilize him and then smash his face into jelly?

        Which is pretty much how it would look in an MMA fight also. But without the additional face, rib and junk stomping and with a sympathetic third man.

        Yes, we know.
        Boxers are better at boxing.

        Pin stripers are also better at painting pin stripes then muralist.

        An equivalently skilled MMA fighter is generally better at overall “fighting” though IMO.

        But its only an opinion (a fightopinion, zing!), we’ve all got one.

  6. robthom says:

    @ Toney/Couture, gosh I kinda wish that wasn’t necessary.

    Besides being immensely irritating and practically intolerable, Toney seems like kind of a cool guy.

    What possessed him to do this?!

    I think I would have preferred if the whole issue had remained that ole fantasy scenario.

    • Chuck says:

      What possessed him? A boatload of money, and the chance to be relevant again, I would surmise.

      • robthom says:

        Well @ least he got his money.

        I’d say the second consideration may have gotten him a hot second of spotlight (of a negligible sort), but has probably resulted in a more substantial measure of the opposite effect for Toney and even Boxing to a degree due the promotional angle for that fight.

  7. cuchifrito says:

    I think Dana should let Tyson Fury fight Cain in the cage.
    Fury looked pretty good against Cunningham and will beat most of the boxing heavyweights.
    Better yet, let Fury fight the winner of Hunt vs. JDS.
    Do it Dana, make it happen!!!

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