Kimbo Slice vs. Mike Tyson: Could it happen?
 |
| Could a fight between Mike Tyson and Kimbo Slice happen? |
After Kimbo Slice’s debut on network television, sports fans on the internet were chatting and posting about a potential Slice-Mike Tyson fight. It’s good for both sports that the casual fan is intrigued by the possibility of this match.
It could happen. Here’s why.
If Kimbo Slice continues to get the kind of exposure he's gotten since fighting on CBS, and if he continues to win, the public will make it so that people will get very rich off this fight. So, when there is money to be made, things tend to get done.
Kimbo’s promoter is Gary Shaw, who got his start in boxing and still promotes some of the best fighters in the world. MMA and boxing generally don't mix, but in this particular case, one man is firmly entrenched in both sports. Shaw has the wherewithal and connections to make the fight a reality. In fact, Kimbo was part of the ring walk for Cuban sensation Yuriorkis Gamboa when he fought on HBO recently. (Shaw co-promotes Gamboa in the U.S.)
And for the third reason, we return to the issue of money. According to some published accounts, Tyson’s fortune is long gone. Any time a fighter has ventured into the realm of Mixed Martial Arts, it is because they have viewed it as a quick and easy score. That’s a mistake for Tyson or any other fighter who crosses over. Nonetheless, if money is indeed a factor for Tyson, half the battle is already won.
While the comparisons between Slice and Tyson are rampant, they don’t really ring true. Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, a man who dominated the game for nearly a decade. My MMA sources tell me that Kimbo would be defeated by nearly every legitimate heavyweight fighting in the UFC. (Kimbo currently fights for UFC rival, EliteXC.)
As imposing as Kimbo is, the experts peg him as a neophyte in his own game.
Still, he has the aura of intimidation that you can't ignore. Shaw gave this quote to TheSweetScience.com about Slice and Tyson: "Slice is the closest thing I know to Tyson. He has an on and off switch. When it is on, someone is in trouble for sure."
Slice is indeed a phenomenon, but before Tyson's rape conviction, Iron Mike was as big as it gets in the world of sports. He earned $20-million paydays and drew pay-per-view numbers that the UFC hasn't even sniffed yet. Tyson was on the cover of Time magazine, Sports Illustrated and nearly every other major national publication you can imagine. He did national commercials for Pepsi and Kodak. Slice still has a long way to go to reach greatness within his own sport and to achieve the kind of celebrity that Tyson enjoyed. In fact, he still enjoys it. In terms of relevance to boxing, Tyson hasn’t been a factor since the Lennox Lewis fight in 2002, but people are still talking about him, still making documentaries about him.
The appeal of a Slice-Tyson fight has everything to do with the mystique that surrounds both fighters. Slice became an internet legend when his ferocious street fights were broadcast on YouTube. Tyson was forever boxing’s bad boy, saying things like, “Everyone has a plan until they get hit.” And that he tried to catch his opponent on the tip of his nose to "drive his nose into his brain." He hit fighters when they were down, and after the bell, and, of course, he bit a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear off.
Was there ever a badder dude on the planet?
The people around Slice believe he is. If a fight of this magnitude were to happen, here’s why it would make sense right now for both men. When making a match, any astute boxing manager tries to get some kind of an advantage for his fighter. The advantage for Tyson would be, fight the guy now before he gets better. Catch him on the way up. The advantage for Slice would be the opposite, catching the guy on the way down. And in the case of Tyson the fighter, he’s about as down as he’ll ever be.
“Bad” Chad Dawson, the current WBC light heavyweight champion often watches MMA fights and tunes in especially to watch Slice. He doesn’t think Tyson should fight him. “I watched Kimbo Slice, he’s a big strong guy. I don’t think the fight would be a good idea for Mike. I wouldn’t want to see him do it. Once he got him on the ground, the fight would be over.”
That is most likely true. Even though MMA folks say that Slice has no ground game, he has more ground game than any boxer. A few years back, he beat a 46-year-old Ray Mercer by bringing him to the ground and squeezing his rib cage with those massive legs. No, Slice couldn’t drop Mercer with a punch, but he did force him to submit. All this certainly works against Tyson.
Remember, the last thing a fighter loses is his punch. And it's always been my contention that one of the main differences between a boxer and mixed martial artist is their ability to take punches. Wouldn’t you like to see what would happen if Tyson nailed Kimbo with just one left hook?
I would.
-- CASSIDY
E-mail
Facebook
Digg
Delicious
Comments (32)
I have been a boxing fan all my life and like everyone else who follow's boxing knows that the likes of Danny Williams,and Kevin Mcbride could not have fastened mike tyson's shoe laces when he was in his prime,lets face it where was Lennox Lewis when tyson was at his peak,ok tyson's problems were of his own doing but can these guys realy hold there heads up and say they beat tyson,and it saddens me to think that even a u-tube fighter thinks if he beats tyson it will do him credit lets face it any one whos watched kimbos fights will see all the guys he fought were half his size and looked like they were brought in from a Mc.Donalds restaurant infact the only person who looked half decent was sean gannon who beat kimbo,so as i see it a kimbo and tyson fight would be the worst thing kimbo could ever do, i personally think kimbo would beat tyson because he's hungry and tyson probably wouldnt even train for the fight,the way i see it the only person who beat Mike Tyson was himself, and if he had looked after himself now like he did in the 80s i think Kimbo Slice would be hiding under his mamas dress.
I love Mike Tyson so much I just want him to be happy!!
is kimbo really fighting jose canseco or is that some kind of joke? if he is, when and where? timothydaly1987@gmail.com
I think Canseco is fighting a former NFL player. It was in Sports Illustrated.
Such a match would not be good for the MMA community. The sport is already trying to gain acceptance in the mainstream as a sport. A match between Kimbo and Tyson would further stereotype MMA as a freakshow. In reality, when run properly, MMA is as much a sport as any other. It's just not fair to match opponents who don't train in the same discipline. There is no SPORT in that.
Kimbo, while having a pedestrian ground game now, is literally training with the best in the business in MMA. His ground is weak, but especailly after struggling against Thompson, the humble Kimbo will surely improve.
Also, Tyson should not be exploited further because he needs money. It's just not a good sporting model. Tyson has aged out of competitive form. We can't be letting promoters take advantage of atheles' deteriorated physicality just because they are in financial crisis.
David, well said on Tyson. He has been exploited enough. You are right ... But there is part of me that would like to see Tyson in his prime -- when he considered by everyone as the Baddest Man on The Planet -- against Kimbo or another top MMA fighter.
I say Do It... There would be more Hype & Excitement for this fight than ANY other in Recent Times... Whether some want to believe it or Not, come fight time, it would be the Talk of the World...
Boxing Fans, MMA Fans, Casual Sports Fans, And Everyone who likes to be "Part of the Next big thing in the world" will be Watching...
If everyone loves Tyson so much, would'nt you want to see him get a Nice payday to get out of Debt, I would...
Also think Kimbo would try to keep it standing (Pride, to say he KO'd Tyson, Just like he did Tank), so Tyson might not have to worry about ground game much...
Clint what pride would Kimbo get knocking out tyson its not as if hes knocked out the tyson of old, if Kimbo has any respect for himself as a top fighter he wouldnt even think about fighting tyson who will he fight after that Mohammed Ali so he has that on his record too.
Tyson is gonna get kocked out............
Oh yeah, I would want to see these two loosers fight...NOT!
You all are crazy I like kimbo as well but if he he tries to stand up with mike tyson in those mma gloves he will get knocked into a coma if you really look at it outside of evander the guys that beat mike were 6 ft 4 250 or better kimbo is not a guy that is going to be able to put his weight on or physicly out power mike mike is past his prime for boxing yes but with a guy like kimbo this becomes a street fight and kimbo does not have that one punch knockout power of tyson and anybody that has ever been in a real fight in there life would see that and i dont believe kimbos ground game as advanced as that of a jr high wrestler.
David Mayeda,
I found your post intelligent and insightful...
Get the hell off the internet!
Canseco is fighting Vy Sickahema....a former punt returner with the Eagles. He is a smaller than normal Tongan (I think he's gonna wipe Canseco up).
**Kimbo Slice may well be able to beat Tyson at this point....I'm sure Tyson isn't exactly in training....but I would hope Iron Mike would never stoop that low....he was a unanimous Heavyweight Champ....Kimbo Slice's career is as ridiculous as his name...and he could only fill 8,000 seats in a 17,000 seat arena....Should we call him Kimbo "WNBA" Slice if that trend continues????
***The best fight for Kimbo Slice is......CHUCK ZITO.
He is itching to get into the fight game with a money fight, he's in the best shape of his life, and he's already said he would fight Kimbo Slice, and he could fill up an arena.
I'd pay to see Kimbo vs. Zito. that would be cool
Ok, kimbo and tyson, idc love them both. Tyson back n the day was amazing, till his head got to him. Kimbo up and coming amazingly, but what about his last fight?
Was he high when he fought that no name guy.. Thompson i think was his name. Ok heres how i see it, Kimbo and Brock.. Shall i say more?
How bout if he fights glass jaw dana kite! That guy has some serious body odor. I think he pooped himself or maybe he likes gravy!
Please please please let this tyson vs slice fight happen but tyson must train for it.Im praying
Zito would knock him out with no problem. but I think that Kimbo Slice would back down b/c he would be scared of getting knocked out.
All this talk about him fighting Mike tyson is Bullshit. I love mike but mike is washed up and what is mike going to do bite his ear off or something else. Mike was good in his prime but that would just be a joke to the sport.
Now if you have a fight with Slice and Zito. Now that is a Fight and will make big money. Kimbo Slice is a so called power house and You have Zito which is a well known power house martial arts expert and a real street fighter he would put a hurting to Slice.
Everyone says that he is old but age is just a NUMBER and when you are in GREAT shape like Zito is Slice has no chance. Zito has the experience and the HEART of a great marital arts expert, boxing knowlege and most of all the street smarts.
So if everyone wants to see the fight of a life time and that will pack the house and will give the real meaning to the MMA, UFC, etc etc then you would want to See ZITO VS SLICE!!!!!!!!!
ALL BETS ON ZITO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mike tyson kick his butt that is kimbo slice don't let him play u
as his meal ticket. all kimbo want's is to get payed! he is a gold digger
but tyson should train and kick his butt! because like i lke to talk about tyson
mike tyson kick his butt that is kimbo slice don't let him play u
as his meal ticket. all kimbo want's is to get payed! he is a gold digger
but tyson should train and kick his butt! because like i lke to talk about tyson
mike tyson kick his butt that is kimbo slice don't let him play u
as his meal ticket. all kimbo want's is to get payed! he is a gold digger
but tyson should train and kick his butt! because like i lke to talk about tyson
mike tyson kick his butt that is kimbo slice don't let him play u
as his meal ticket. all kimbo want's is to get payed! he is a gold digger
but tyson should train and kick his butt! because like i lke to talk about tyson
mike tyson kick his butt that is kimbo slice don't let him play u
as his meal ticket. all kimbo want's is to get payed! he is a gold digger
but tyson should train and kick his butt! because like i lke to talk about tyson
mike tyson kick his butt that is kimbo slice don't let him play u
as his meal ticket. all kimbo want's is to get payed! he is a gold digger
but tyson should train and kick his butt! because like i lke to talk about tyson
mike tyson kick his butt that is kimbo slice don't let him play u
as his meal ticket. all kimbo want's is to get payed! he is a gold digger
but tyson should train and kick his butt! because like i lke to talk about tyson
mike tyson kick his butt that is kimbo slice don't let him play u
as his meal ticket. all kimbo want's is to get payed! he is a gold digger
but tyson should train and kick his butt! because like i lke to talk about tyson
This fight can neer happen. Mike Tyson is too old and past his prime.
OMG i cant beleive anyone would even think that kimbo had a chance in hell against mike tyson omg we are talking about mike tyson ive been a boxing fan all my life and i fight local we have some good local fighter like jeremy the beast bates who faught hollyfeild yea he lst ofcoarse nad i think kimbo would have his hands full with jeremy bates and mike tyson would kill jeremy there is a level and mike tyson may be out of his prime but kimbo is still way out of his league
Both are HARD HITTING JOKERS!!! As long as Mike doesn't get frustrated and do something STUPID, he'll knock Kimbo's block off within 5 rounds!!!
BUT, if Kimbo can survive Mike's onslaught during the early rounds, he'll knock Mike into TOMORROW after the 5th round!!!
IT COULD GO EITHER WAY!!!
'NUFF SAID
Here's another thing to remember, neither fighter can fight backing up!!! So whoever puts on the most pressure in the 1rst round, will determine the geography of the fight!!!
Personally, I'd like to see Mike win, but Kimbo is FRESH!!! Mike needs to get back in rare form again, IF HE CAN DO IT!!! He's 43 now, but that's not to say that he can't get in shape, PHYSICALLY. It's his MENTAL state that concerns me. George Foreman won the Championship during his mid-40's!!! Although he wasn't the KILLER he was back in the 70's, he could still put you away!!!
How old is Kimbo, in his mid to late 30's??? He's been active, and that makes all of the difference. But, my original theory in my previous post still stands: IT COULD GO EITHER WAY!!!
'NUFF SAID
If you have to do it, you might as well do it right