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Kimbo Slice: BOXING CAREER EXPOSED – How Far Will He Go?

By Geno McGahee

The YouTube backyard boxing/MMA champ, turned mixed martial artist, now boxer, Kimbo Slice, 3-0, 2 KO’s, began his boxing career in a thrilling manner, stopping his first two opponents in the very first round. In his first fight, he annihilated James Wade in 17 seconds, and followed that up with a 2 minute KO of Tay Bledsoe. His most recent opponent, Charles Hackmann, fit the mold of the first two. According to some reports, Hackmann was 0-1 going in, and others would note that he was making his pro debut. Either way, he was an opponent that was supposed to crumble in one round like the others, but he didn’t. He took Slice the distance.

The fight would go to the cards and an exhausted Slice would raise his hands in victory by scores of 39-37 across the board. The 37 year old Slice may not even get to the point where he can be another Butterbean, which seemed to be the intention. He would be an attraction more than a fighter, but if he struggles at this level, with this matchmaking, he may not make it far in boxing.

Next month, Robert Bruce, 2-0, 2 KO’s, comes off a 5 year layoff to take on Slice in a four rounder. Bruce’s two victories were over Nick Tiddle, a fighter that has compiled a record of 0-2, both losses by KO, and Eric Crittendon, a man that has put together a record of 2-12, 2 KO’s. In other words, Bruce hasn’t faced anyone with a pulse and with five years off, he is an ideal opponent for Slice, but how little does Bruce have to have to be another 1st round victim to the fury of Kimbo? We will find out.

To the credit of Slice, he is making an effort to build a record quickly. At 37, he doesn’t have much of a choice, but he is in there and he is exciting. He has the potential to be a huge draw and boxing is in desperate need of that, but he can’t lose at this level. There is still a possibility to build him as they did Butterbean, having him fight regularly on the undercards of big fights and knocking out some no-hoper early and giving the crowd the KO that they want. If he comes out and toasts Bruce in one or two rounds, he will be back on track to be a big attraction in the game.

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