James Toney signs with the UFC... so who's he gonna fight?

So, boxer James Toney has officially signed with the UFC... from MMAWEEKLY;

Former boxing champion James Toney is headed to mixed martial arts after the 1991 and 2003 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year signed a multi-fight contract with the UFC on Wednesday. 

The signing was first reported by FiveOuncesofPain.com, and confirmed to MMAFighting.com's Mike Chiappetta by UFC president Dana White, as well. 

Toney's signing marks the first time a high profile boxer has been featured in the UFC since Zuffa, LLC took over ownership. Other professional boxers have made the move into MMA in the past with extremely mixed results. 

During his boxing career, Toney amassed a record of 72-6-3, with 44 knockouts, while winning titles in several different weight classes. 

So speculation has begun as to who will be his first opponent... Randy Couture has already thrown his hat into the ring, although the UFC isn't likely to sacrifice their newest signee to a greco-roman, olympic wrestler. What about Chuck Liddell? Kinda makes sense, both washed up, both big names, not bad for a one off fight...

Well, no official word on an opponent yet, but here are a couple of clues... Juanito Ibarra, Rampage Jackson's former trainer, and Toney's current guy, called out... well, see for yourself; 

James Toney will fight anybody. It's up to us to help him figure things out. What I would like to see and what his manager would like to see...Kimbo Slice.

It makes sense. The weight factor makes sense. Maybe a 220 [lbs.] fight somewhere in there. Two guys who have great names. I would love to see that fight ...I think that's a great opponent ...hopefully the UFC would consider something like that.

 

Here's another clue, the upcoming bout between Kimbo Slice and Matt Mitrione was just pulled from the UFC website.