Im not sure if the MMA world sees this as a boxing vs MMA standoff but the boxing world sure as hell doesnt.
Just because he isn't the best boxer in the world doesn't mean that he doesn't represent boxing. For Christ sake, he's a boxer. What else does he represent? I could say the same thing about Couture. He's old, he's past his prime, he doesn't represent MMA to the MMA world no matter what boxers think. Its stupid. James Toney is a boxer. When he fights, he will fight as a boxer. When a Gracie fights, they represent BJJ, whether they are the best in the world, or old, or out of shape, they are still BJJ fighters. You can't have it both ways. If Toney wins, you're gonna say it proves boxing is better, but if he loses, well he wasn't the best boxer for the job.