Juanito Ibarra to coach James Toney
Juanito Ibarra, a 30-year veteran of boxing and MMA who once trained champions Oscar De La Hoya and Quinton “Rampage”…
Juanito Ibarra, a 30-year veteran of boxing and MMA who once trained champions Oscar De La Hoya and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, is training Toney in his Southern California MMA gym.
“James and I have good personal chemistry,” Ibarra said. “That’s what it takes. I just don’t jump in with anybody. We respect each other’s knowledge.” He continued We have been working on stretching, sprawling and movement, all the things he will need to get a handle on.”
Ibarra said he’d like to see Toney make his UFC debut in June, but said that was just his wish. In the coming weeks, he expects to bring in several well-known fighters to coach Toney in wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, though he declined to give any names.
“He’s a student of the fight game,” Ibarra said. “He’s a born fighter, and I believe in him. I think I can teach him more about his body, his athleticism – how to fight better as an MMA combatant.”