Kimbo: The Slice Is Still Right
By Steven Shabo, Photo by Monty Brinton/CBS - If Andy Warhol were alive, he might say that Kevin Ferguson has lived the fame of a million men and he would probably be right. On October 4, 2008, Kevin Ferguson, better known as Kimbo Slice, continues his MMA run when he faces the “World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock in a nationally televised network bout. However, questions are already being raised regarding the competency of the forty-four year old Shamrock who has lost seven of his last eight fights, including five by first round stoppages.
However, in the end, Slice won with what brought him to the ball and that is his fierce punching power. Yet, despite appearing on the cover of ESPN Magazine and headlining the highest rated televised MMA card in history, Slice has endured ridicule from all directions. MMA fans have called him a fraud, boxing fans have labeled him a run-of-the-mill street fighter, and his fellow combatants, many whom have toiled in obscurity for years have let the world know that at the very least, he is undeserving. However, Kimbo Slice continues to move forward, fighting for respectability, recognition, and money. When he signed a multi-year multi-fight lucrative contract with Elite XC, in which he is to make in the neighborhood of six figures per bout, Slice probably surpassed his wildest financial dreams. In his first internet fight video against an opponent named “Big D,” Slice reportedly took home only three thousand dollars; albeit it was only for a few minutes work. Things have certainly changed since then.
But today we live in a different time; a time where everything must happen in an instant. Mike Tyson didn’t appear on network television until h is eighteenth professional fight while Kimbo Slice has already made his network debut in only his third bout. The rise of MMA and Kimbo S lice could have only happened in an age where money and greed have overrun boxing probably to the point of no return and Oscar De La Hoya has redefined the art of hype by refusing to give the fans what they want and instead giving them what he wants. Today in boxing, the ridiculous number of champions and the meaningless rankings has helped fuel the popularity of MMA. Most fight fans now don’t know the history and could care less about the sport’s legacy. They’d rather just watch an endless circus of beat downs from the safe vantage point of their flat screen televisions.
This is the world Kimbo Slice has entered, but at age thirty-four, he probably only has a couple more years to legitimately compete before he will simply be too old. And despite having top trainer, Bas Rutten, in his corner, the reality is that Kimbo Slice started too late in life to ever master the ground game which everyone knows is his Achilles’ heel. But Slice will most likely get his money and if he plays his cards right, with his shaved skull, gold grill, and big beard, might even turn himself into a unlikely endorsement personality similar to former fighter Bob Sapp or rapper Snoop Doggy Dog.
Kimbo Slice has always been humble about himself and his progress as a fighter which might explain why the fans continue to support him. But just because a guy is from the hood and has a great punch, it doesn’t make him a fighter. And just because a guy looks tough and talks the right game, it doesn’t mean he has heart. Slice might lose his next fight and all his dreams would come to a crashing end.
But no one can say is that Kimbo Slice isn’t a real fighter. No one can say that he doesn’t have heart. No one can say that he doesn’t belong. No one can say anything because at the moment, like it or not, the Slice is still right.
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Posted September 19th, 2008 l 468 views
