Champion Cant Touch This

David Haye, the current WBA world heavyweight champion, has plenty of experience of MMA, having trained with Britain’s Michael Bisping on more than one occasion. Unlike many boxers, he is more than prepared to acknowledge that it takes years of training to understand the ground game required to compete in the UFC, something he is convinced 41-year-old former boxing champion Toney fails to appreciate.

“Six months of training isn’t going to be enough,” Haye told Bloody Elbow. “As a UFC fan, I know two or three years wouldn’t be enough. How many times has Toney sprawled in his life? 500? How many leg kicks has he taken in his life? 300? How many kimura attempts has he defended? 140? Even if he’s done double that amount, he wouldn’t have nearly the experience needed to win a UFC fight.

“I know from training in MMA myself that the wrestling aspect ruins your punching power. After a minute of grappling, your arms, back and shoulders fill with blood and even if you then find space to throw punches, your power is suddenly crap.

“I hit a lot harder and I’m so much faster than James, and I couldn’t land a punch on fighters when all they wanted to do was take me down to the ground. James is a much more static fighter than I am, and is going to get thrown on his back immediately by Randy. I admire Toney’s spirit and boxing skills. But he’s delusional here.”