Promoter Wants Former UFC Fighter Kimbo Slice to Face the NFL’s Ray Edwards in Boxing

Former UFC and EliteXC fighter Kimbo Slice isn’t done with combat sports just yet.

The Florida resident has been out of action since a loss in the UFC in May 2010 to fellow ‘Ultimate Fighter’ alum Matt Mitrione. Since that time, Slice (aka Kevin Ferguson) decided to take up professional boxing, but hasn’t made an appearance inside the squared circle yet.

Now, according to his promoter and former EliteXC executive Jared Shaw, they are putting out an open challenge to Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, who is set to make his boxing debut later this month in Minnesota.

“I’ll tell you right now on the air, I’ve called Mike Riley to get in touch with Ray Edwards’ people and I’ve made an open challenge to come fight Kimbo Slice. That fight I will deliver,” Shaw said in an appearance on MMAWeekly Radio.

“If Ray Edwards wants to step up and fight Kimbo Slice I will deliver that to the public. There’s two guys that come from athletic backgrounds, that haven’t been in the ring that many times, so let’s see two big boys bang it out. If Ray Edwards thinks he’s a great boxer, then maybe he thinks he can go through Kevin Ferguson very quickly.”

Edwards, who is currently sidelined from his pro career as an NFL player due to the current lockout, has said he wanted to pursue boxing because it’s something he’s always aspired to.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do in my life,” Edwards told The Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “I can’t put my eggs all in one basket, waiting for the NFL to settle the lockout. You never know when this lockout is going to end.”

If Edwards is successful in his first fight, Kimbo Slice would be very happy to become his second opponent. Edwards stated he signed a two-fight deal for boxing.

While Slice has been out of action, he hasn’t been taking much time off. According to Shaw, the former street fighter has been busy filming a movie, but still stays in fight shape at all times and would love the chance to face Edwards in the boxing ring.

“I’m always in contact with Kimbo and his camp, and they’re great. Kimbo’s enjoying his life post a lot of training years. The first time out in boxing it just wasn’t the right timing, he had some aches, he wanted to go shoot a film, ‘The Scorpion King,’ and we just left it open ended. I have good feelings that Kimbo Slice still wants to make an impact in the fight game. However, he can define his own impact,” Shaw stated.

Some will point at the bout as a celebrity boxing match of sorts or a potential circus sideshow because of the celebrity surrounding both men if they do end up fighting. Shaw disagrees because both Edwards and Slice are serious about boxing, so why not fight each other?

“Some people will call it a circus, but you can call it whatever you want,” Shaw stated. “It’s two guys who are willing to get in the ring and bang it out. I don’t really call that a circus.”

The gauntlet has been thrown and Slice and his camp are ready to accept if Edwards wants to step up to the challenge.

“Ray Edwards, if he wants a piece of Kimbo Slice, that fight can happen,” Shaw said in closing.

Damon Martin is the lead staff writer and radio host for MMAWeekly.com.
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