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Toney signs deal with UFC

James Toney is looking to prove himself in UFC © Getty Images

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Former world super middleweight champion James Toney has signed a multi-fight deal with UFC.

Toney's boxing career has been on the slide for some time, but he still feels he can cut it at the highest level and claimed recently that he wanted a shot at UFC.

UFC president Dana White began talks with a fighter who has a record of 72-6-3 and a deal was struck to see him switch from the ring to the octagon. No date has been set for when Toney will make his debut, but White is convinced by the 41-year-old's desire.

"We'll figure something out," White said when questioned on Toney's likely debut. "I'm not really sure. Here's the thing with James: We were sitting around finishing the deal and talking and he told me that he'd been talking to Strikeforce (MMA organisation). He said they were talking to him about a fight with Herschel Walker. James said to me, 'Do you know what I'd do to that f**k?' He looked at me and said, 'You know, I have a lot of pride and I'd never do anything to embarrass myself. I'm a fighter. I want to fight. And don't ever underestimate me.'"

Toney has piled on the pounds in recent years but says it is not an issue. "Don't make wise cracks about my weight, because I've been working hard and the next time you see me, you'll be shocked," Toney said. "Dana put his foot in his mouth and said UFC guys are better fighters than boxers. We'll see. Everyone who knows anything about fighting knows I'm the purest fighter in the game. There ain't no secrets.

"I've been fighting a long time. I was born fighting. I know what I'm doing. I called Dana after he put his foot in his mouth and I'm going to prove he doesn't know what he's talking about."

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