Kevin Ferguson better known to MMA fans as Kimbo Slice will be making his professional boxing debut on Aug 13 in Oklahoma and he now has an opponent.
The one-time ‘Ultimate Fighter’ competitor will face James Wade in the main event at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.
Kimbo Slice enters the match with a 0-0 record in boxing, but shot to fame for his street fight videos, which got millions of views on YouTube. He also ended his MMA career with a 4-2 record overall.
Wade comes in with an 0-1 pro boxing record, but a chance of a lifetime to build his name off of Kimbo Slice’s celebrity.
“James Wade is an American fighter out of Missouri, and he’s 0-1, but he doesn’t want to go 0-2. For Kimbo Slice it’s a great fight for his pro debut, it will give us time to assess where Kimbo is through his training, and how his learning curve has already begun,” Team Kimbo promotional advisor Jared Shaw said about the match-up.
“For James Wade this is his heavyweight championship, for Kimbo Slice this is his pro boxing debut.”
While some have pointed at Kimbo’s move into boxing as his search for a new payday or some kind of freak show fight, his promoter says just watch and see. Shaw has followed Kimbo’s training camp and believes that everyone will be surprised just how seriously he’s taking his new boxing career.
“Kimbo’s looking real good, he’s focused, he’s fully healthy now. This time off has been a blessing for him, he’s reinvigorated. He has a chip on his shoulder and he’s hungry. He does want gold, but he wants respect a lot more,” Shaw said.
“A lot of people think this is the Butterbean, king of the four rounders, well when we fight six rounds and that will be soon enough, they won’t say he’s the Butterbean, king of the four rounders. I can promise you when he steps in the ring, he’ll back up everything I’m saying.”
While no one from Team Kimbo or his promoter are flat out out saying he’s going to make a run at the heavyweight title any time soon, they all believe he can be an exciting fighter in an otherwise dull division.
Shaw points to the recent heavyweight title fight between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye that was regarded as one of the worst big fights in boxing history.
“I can guarantee you one thing – Kimbo Slice is no David Haye, he won’t be running away from anybody,” said Shaw. “He’s going to be an injection into the heavyweight division.”
Kimbo Slice faces James Wade on Aug 13 in Miami, Okla.
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