LOS ANGELES, CA, MARCH 26 – A relative unknown in the professional boxing world, Kimbo Slice is anything but unknown to mixed martial arts (MMA) fans. Slice has been propelled to rock-star status, with a series of raw footage video clips that show him in bare-knuckle brawls and sometimes taking on two opponents, back-to-back. With a knockout style reminiscent of a young Mike Tyson and an intensity parallel to many world champion fighters, Slice has attracted fans from all over the world who crave to watch him in action.
Characterized as an underground street fighter, Slice will be taking on former Heavyweight Champion Ray Mercer on June 23rd at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City in an MMA Cage Match. In an exclusive interview with touchgloves.com Slice talks about his upcoming fight, his training and more.
Kimbo, thank you for taking the time to do this interview. How did you get started in the backyard-style street fights we’ve been seeing over the Internet?
The backyard was just a location that was picked. It was a personal beef between the guy and myself. It was a location that was picked and it started the whole backyard theme.
Do you have any formal training in boxing or mixed martial arts?
No, no I don’t. I’ve had a lot of fights on the ground. You know, a fight is a fight, you are as good as you are.
A lot of the videos show you having a boxing style. With the upcoming fight against Ray Mercer in a Cage under the rules of the New Jersey Athletic Board, are you now looking to change your style towards MMA?
I’m gonna bang it out, he wants to bang, we are gonna bang.
Have you ever considered Professional boxing?
Considered it. I’ve thought about it. But MMA is the next wave, its the new era. If anything I’ll stick with MMA. I wouldn’t box because its [MMA] is closer to the real thing. If I can do the real thing, its better.
Sounds like fighting Ray Mercer is not a one-time deal and you will continue to fight in MMA in the future.
I love fighting. I will do whatever I have to do as far as training, and getting myself to that level so that I could continue and look at it as a career. This will not be my only fight.
What are your thoughts on Ray Mercer and have you watched his past fights?
I mean, you know, he’s fighting. I would never disrespect anybody or underestimate anyone. I have respect for everyone as a fighter. Especially as a professional, he’s a professional boxer. I give him all the respect in the world as a fighter. When two men get in the ring, the best man is gonna walk out of there. The better man is going to win. I have all the respect in the world for every fighter. NOTE: There was a replay of Mercer against Evander Holyfield during this interview.
Have you started training? Are you doing anything different now?
I am training. Nothing different. I stay in shape all the time, because I never know when a fight is going to come up. I’m not changing my routine.
Should we expect to see more of the video series we’ve seen on the Internet?
Yeah, there’s about 10 more [fights].
What has been the driving force behind your fights and influenced you to fight?
I’m fighting to get paid, take care of my family and myself. Yeah, I love to fight. I’ll bang it out with anybody, but at the same time, if the purse is good, damn right, I’m there.
You’ve attracted a lot of attention and a lot of fans around the world. Why do you think they are drawn to you.
The reality part of it. I’m a real dude. You’ll see me around, holding my kid, you’ll see me at the mall. I’m not a fake dude. I’m a real life dude. I’m just like the average guy out there except that I have no fear that I’ll bang it out with anybody, I don’t care who that guy is. With all due respect to fighters. That’s what makes me different and my fans around the world, I’m sure they love that. I’ll see you and say whats up to you and we can get together and share a burger or a soda. It’s real life stuff you know.
Do you have a prediction on June 23rd against Ray Mercer?
I’m gonna get in there and do my best. I’m gonna give 110%. I’m not gonna sit down, I’m ready to bang it out you know.
Anything you want to say to your fans?
Stay tuned. After the fight, catch me “in the VIP”, and stay with it. Keep me in mind and keep me in your prayers.
Update 6/26/2007: New Kimbo Interview Post Mercer Fight
Update 6/23/2007: Kimbo Slice Destroys Ray Mercer in 1st Round
Update 3/30/2007: Ray Mercer Responds to Kimbo Slice
you can contact the author at rmaiker@touchgloves.com
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HEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
YYYYYYYYYEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
i would love to see kimbo go up against lenox, that way kimbo would know wot getting punched really feels like
There are some crazy people here, or as the homies would say…stupid ass niggaz
kimbo is a large fella who has a reputation. he has a psychological advantage over whoever he fights in the backyard. By the time he steps into the ring with mercer his psych edge will be gone instantly. Mercer as old and over the hill as he is should clown Bimbo and take him to school. If he can stay out of the way of Bimbos hay makers then theres only one winner
Mercer
and for the retard who said “thats how we eat”…er no you usually get a job and pay like everyone else…
wooooooot kimbos gunna get terrized . trained pro against street fight ha AND MIKE TYSON will kick the shit ooout of kimbo .kimbo has basic boxin skills tyson will rip his head offf f**k sake!!!. surprised though kimbo seemed a nice person down to earth.
Some people seem to think that Ray having been hit by boxing gloves isnt as hard as the bareknuckles of Adryan and the bouncer lol, well the glove is to protect the hand! Nobody has punched Kimbo, hi sbeard is untested from a real punch yet he has gone down from that bouncers jab lol.
Some people seem to think that Ray having been hit by boxing gloves isnt as hard as the bareknuckles of Adryan and the bouncer lol, well the glove is to protect the hand! Nobody has punched Kimbo, hi sbeard is untested from a real punch yet he has gone down from that bouncers jab lol.
HITEM KIMBO hurt him
I predict Kimbo will win the next fight. In Mercer’s MMA career, it appears that he is an amateur. Mercer quit after just 1 kick. Is that what you guys call heart? LOL
im a mercer fan, i’m also hypnotized by kimbos fight game.. any other time i’d say mercer, given his backround..but this will be ray’s 2nd mma fight. the 1st he lost to a guy named remy somthing or other… all i know is the ring walks took longer than the fight..one kick to mercer’s left ear and he QUIT… I was hurt..KIMBO ‘s a d2earth guy. peace.
kimbo sounds real cool…i had a whole different view of him because i dont like violence and i thought he was some dude looking for people to fuck for no reason…
305 represent kimbo do your thing bro u the man rock this guys fucking jaw
It only takes one punch. And you have to think about the ground.
Kimbo Round 1
kimbo wins no doubt about it…mercer is not strong enough nor does he have the jaw that kimbo has. kimbo wins ko 2 round..
Kimbo, live on Pay-Per-View! “All day! All day!!”
Its funny that someone said that Mercer hasnt got the jaw that kimbo has. Mercer is renowned as having an iron jaw. Who exactly has ever hit kimbo`s chin? Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, Evander Holyfield?
No, Kimbo has been put down by jabs from guys called Bouncer and Gannon and faced a variety of non punching opponents while Mercer has taken shots from the illustrious and hard hitting names i mentioned.
Some of you guys make me laugh. Ray Mercer was not only one of the hardest hitters but also had one of the hardest heads. If I remeber correctly I think he’s been knocked down twice in his whole career. Kimbo better try to take him down if he knows what’s good for him otherwise that boy will go down hard and fast to sleep for about a month. This is a trained assasin, not some street brute.
Don’t get me wrong I love watching Kimbo just like the rest however he better stay in the streets where he’s good. Do I have to remind you of his fight with Gannon. In a boxing match or octagon he is no professional and nothing but a sideshow.
For all of you talking crap about Mercer, I would like to see you fight him with one hand tied behind his back. You would all crumble, fat old or ugly!
all respect to all fighters world wide .
I was a top line full contact fighter for 11 years and finished my career fighting a street fighter when cage fightin first started to emerge . I was ranked 3rd in the world steping into the ring and was carried out on a stretcher and that was the end of my fightin career.
trained fighters have an advantage over the average fighter . but top line street fighters against top line trained fighters is somting i think i Cant miss .
come on kimbo . your a legend .
Kimbo isn’t as tough as you may think. Yes he messes people up on the streets but they arent “fighters”. Kimbo knows how to fight, he has fought. Hes a big guy.. These people on the streets arent as experienced or as determined as he is. I may as well fight a 10 year old. Put Kimbo in that ring and he is done, gg Kimbo, gg.
Kimbo would kick tha shit out a that fat ass Butterbean like to see that fight… and Mercer is goin down in the first.
ALL I AM GONNA SAY IS SEAN GANNON
I GUESS KIMBO DIDNT EAT THAT DAY
To all you people who said Ray “quit” after one kick, you should do a little research. That “Remy Someone” was actually Remy Bojansky, 2 time K-1 World GP Champion. Download one of his highlight videos on youtube and watch how many people were sent crashing to the canvas from the same style shin kick to the temple like the one Ray copped. It’s amazing that Ray was still on his feet.
Ray was a fish out of water in K-1, using only his fists against knees, punches and kicks. It’s a whole different ballgame.
I’m looking forward to this one. I’d predict Ray to win though.
YO WHAT IT DO! MIKEY G FROM ELPASO TX SAYS THAT KIMBO WILL GIVE A GOOD FIGHT RAY WHO? I KNOW HOLYFIELD I KNOW MIKE TYDSON BUT RAY WHO?!1!!!! KIMBO WILL WIN IN 1 OR SECOND ROUND!! WE GOTTA EAT JUST LIKE ME IVE BOXED BOXERS I GOTMY OWN STYLEOF BOXING1!! AND IVE KICKED TRAINED BOXERS ASSES!!!! BIG UPS TO U KIMBO KICK THAT DUDES ASS!!!!
Kimbo,
I’m praying for you, hard and earnest, now it’s up to you to listen to God and protect yourself…you have to put on the armor of knowledge, knowledge of how to make your punches compact, efficient, deadly, knowledge of where to hit, how to set up a hit, how to anticipate and dodge a hit…even knowledge of how to take a man down and elbow his head into next week. You got the tools Kimbo but they gotta be sharp. You sharpening them with knowledge? Kimbo, you the everyman, you more than just yourself, you carry the dreams of many…we all pulling for you, praying for you, but you stepped up, so know you gotta do what you gotta do to stay up, and that’s learning, acquiring knowledge…surround yourself with good fighters who know technique and who are going to teach you…stay away from yes men who say you have it won. We praying for you man. God Blesses the righteous of heart, humble enough to know their weaknesses and strengthen against them. God bless you Kimbo.
Kimbo has only fought fat loosers, and win he did loose it was to pussy ass Sean Gannon. Adrian was a huge pussy too he couldn’t throw a punch i like to see him fight Andre Arlofski or Tim Silvia, he’d get work on! Oh by the way the guy above if a huge tool.
QUIRO PELEAR CON VOS BIMBO SLICE TE VOY A CAGAR A TROMPADAS TE VOY A DEJAR NEGRO DE TANTOS MORETONES YO EL SUPER MACHO DE MTE GDE MARCOS AVISAME CUANDO PODES VENIR A SI TE CAGO Q PIÑA SALUDOS ATTE MAQUEDA
kimbo is a fat prick thinks he can fight agaisnt other pussys he will get a beatin of ray
I like how everyone tries to make kimbo sound like he’s huge.
He’s only 6’3 240+, 90% of heavy weight mma fighters are bigger.
Plus street fighters and professional mma fighters is like comparing an old junk car next to a race car.
Kimbo is going to get his ass kicked by any mma fighter, sean gannon is probably the worst heavyweight fighter I’ve ever seen, yet he kicked kimbos ass.
Now imagine what a good professional mma fighter can do to him,
Kimbo you got it baby
but yea i wanna see them 10 other fights i need 2 kno were 2 go 2 see them
Thanx hommie
Kimbo you got it baby
but yea i wanna see them 10 other fights i need 2 kno were 2 go 2 see them
Thanx hommie
I find this all very amusing. The idea that a street fighter, regardless of size and strength, can stand toe to toe with a trained pro is absurd. What would be the point in training for years (to become heavyweight champion of the world no less) if any fool with a little skill, size, strength and heart could whip your ass. I’m sure Kimbo would be a terror in a street game of football as well, but would anyone suggest he could play in the NFL. I also remember an old guy by the name George Foreman who dropped Michael Moorer (who was a trained champion) on his ass when he was 15yrs older and supposed to be too old and fat to compete. Kimbo is a bad-ass who on the street destroy’s average people, but a former world champ who has spent the majority of his life training, is most certainly not an average person. You can take the boxer out of the gym but you can’t take the skill out of the boxer. Ray would win this fight even if it was in Kimbo’s backyard.
By the way, Gannon was never in trouble against Kimbo and Kimbo himself said that the better man always wins. So Gannon was the better man (and no one would believe Gannon could beat Ray). So making excuses for Kimbo’s loss to Gannon, does not change the fact that he lost. And living in some dream world where street fighters beat trained pro’s doesn’t make it real.
One more thing. The only fighter that Kimbo has fought that has any professional training at all is Gannon. And we all saw how that worked out. Ray will knock Kimbo out in the 1st.
Aight! Listen up! Everyone talking all dis shit about Kimbo this, Kimbo that…I do give da brotha lots of cred, no doubt, he is an animal. But against an old fart like Mercer…PLEASE. Kimbo will kill him. I respect the fact, that dude respects all other fighters. Because in all honesty, they all putting they life on the line. Anyhow, want to really impress me, Kimbo? Fight with IRON MIKE! Tyson was and always will be the man I would take to hell with me by my side. Everyone talkin all dis shit! Challenge Tyson…Then the world would see who the real man is. Peace…suckas!
You know, bang it out. Im a real dude…
He sounds nice, but also stupid.
Enough with how old Ray is. Roger Clemens is 45, Barry Bonds is 42, George Foreman was 46 and world champ, Randy Couture is 44 and is UFC heavyweight champ, Jerry Rice played till he was 42, Jackie Slater was 43 and played 21yrs. in the NFL on the O-line. I could go on but you get the point. 46 is not that old in todays sports games. If Ray was 56 I’d agree with you but not at 46.
Lets also not pretend that Kimbo is a MMA fighter as has been suggested on this forum. He has no formal training what-so-ever. Just watch him stick his chin out and stalk his opponent with-out narrowing his body. The man is a knock-out waiting to happen. Although I would agree that if he turned pro with the UFC and trained like a pro he would be fun to watch. He does have the heart and attitude that is necessary to be good. But for now he is just an over-blown machination of the internet.
I’m not a Kimbo hater. I know raw talent when I see it. Without professional training however, he has no better chance of beating Ray than I do.
Aiight… For all yall suckas that dont realize it. For the nigga in the hood, Kimbo represents the struggle of a real nigga. All that anger and get back is not only his hard life and prison term but the overall struggle of a black man. So in that case I feel for any man that tests him because he is enraged boy!! Betta know that…. You put yo life on the line messing with Kimbo and all that fire. Black men are dominant in just about all sports (that count) so to you cage fighters beware of real niggas who wanna fight. Bottom line is the black man owns straight up hand fighting and always has…. I cant wait to see some REAL niggas get into that octagon and break some jaw bones on live TV… Kimbo is just the beginning… Once you open the door for a street hood to come forward and make money… Like they say folks you get what you pay for. When real niggas come to the octagon BEWARE!!
This kimbo guy is ridiculous….no MMA training, just a striaght street banger…ok yeah maybe he will “bang it out” with mercer and yeah he could beat him…but if kimbo were to step in the ring with sylvia or couture it wouldn’t even be a fight they would take him to the ground, garuntee kimbo has no idea how to defend on the ground, and then he’d get his face pounded straight in..i have seen kimbo’s fight’s and i love how when he fights that boston cop kimbo’s corner freaks when the choke hold gets put on him and he gets 2 knee strikes. WAKE UP KIMBO THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU IN MMA LEARN TO DEAL WITH IT. When you get some “actual” training fight in the UFC or PRIDE you’ll have one helluva rude awakening.
kimbo is become better with each fight, as a man who loves 2 fight ,ko real quick 4 kimbo , and yea represent the dirty dirty , M I A
kimbo’s a real nigga
i say Kimbo merks Mercer..look at the size difference….no doubt he can take mercer…..Kimbo will stick him once and he gonna drop like a fly. Peace out kimbo!!!
Anyone who has met a genuine Tuff guy like Kimbo Knows thats most are really kool, humble guys. Why?. They have nothing to Prove they are Tuff and know it period! No surprise there… Ok Ray is almost 50 yrs “ya hear me now” 50 still seems to be in some kinda shape. I have seen Kimbo get tired Quick if Ray wins he should have…. If Kimbo wins he beats a almost 50 years old man.. ehhhhh intresting. but not to be taken serious. Proves nothing peace from the east.
kimbo is good in the street against untrained brawlers..id liek him to come over to aus and “bang”..i think ray will ko him by 2nd round
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME…any trained professional athelete weather it be boxing or mma would whop kimbos ass hard…yeah he can take a punch…we have all seen that…but what we haven’t seen is him take multiple punches in good combination from a trained professional. And here is a question about Ray being to old and not in his prime…would you want to be hit by him…no cause it would fuck up your day…the fact and we saw it with sean gannon, kimbo does not know how to protect himself…he just has a tough head which eventually is going to put him down. Knees are easy to protect and thats “not allowed” according to the rules when you fight kimbo…fuck that…I’ve been training for years and the first thing that i was told was when your in the streets there are no fucking rules so do what you got to do win…no fuckin knees or chokes…get the fuck out of here Kimbo
Kimbo Slice is my favorite internet fighter! In fact he is the only fighter I know on the internet circut. Slice vs. Merciless Ray Mercer will be a great oppritunity for the MMA world to be properly introduced to Kimbo! I can’t wait to see what a mean street fighter matches up to a Tuff pro-boxer!
Just from the vids, it seems like Kimbo would be a cocky pro fighter. After reading the interview, he is one classy and humble guy. We need more of this in MMA. Good Luck Kimbo. 412 is pullin for ya.
does anyone know what website i can find all of kimbos fights? i heard there was one that they were offering the 10 thousand and then fought
kimbo slice is strong and got alot of power very good street fighter but fighting a boxer trained fighter because a boxer myself i adapt my boxing style into floyd mayweather i got very fast hand speed blocking and quick feet . Mercer should beable to knock him out just because he won’t probably gas out lik kimbo will but kimbo got stamina i think mercer is going to be in some trouble with kimbo heavy handed power
KIMBO’S PROBLEM IS HE’S RAW BUT CAN PUNCH. HAVEN’T SEEN HIM AGAINST A TRUE KNOCKOUT PUNCHER YET AND MERCER IS DEFINATELY THAT.
REMEMBER, EVEN IF MERCER IS OUT OF SHAPE, HE’LL STILL HAVE HIS PUNCHING POWER, AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST FEW MINUTES.
I’VE REFEREED,JUDGED AND WATCHED THOUSANDS OF BOXING AND MMA’S AND THE PUNCHER USUALLY WINS.
THATS MERCER IN THIS CONTEST.
SHOULD BE INTERESTING. HEARD TOMMY MORRISION IS DOING THE SAME THING (MMA) IN PHOENIX. I THINK THIS WEEK.
Look, Kimbo is a streetfighter with all the fundementals of a good boxer and is in great shape. Plus Kimbo got more ridin on this fight than Ray. Even though Ray Mercer is a professional boxer, he old and probably aint in good shape and remember he’s a FORMER World Champ and Olympic metalist. I think this should be a aight fight. But you know All my money’s own my nigga KIMBO!!! As a 1st degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, I agree wit Tim though, Kimbo should learn some Martial Arts and some fundamental wrestling. He’d be UNSTOPABLE!!! Much Luv 4 U dog good luk at CFFC. Do what U gotta do.
Listen, I think Kimbo may have a minimum of 10s of millions of fans around the world, literally. We should all start a blog that would instigate and ultimately be the reason behind a Tyson vs Kimbo fight hosted live on MySpace or YouTube for free, YES FREE, and the fight would make money off of advertisers for millions per minute similar to the prices for the adds during the Super Bowl. Why on the internet and why Free of charge? One, more people have the internet than cable; two, the internet is international and not hindered by language barriers; three, the views of that live fight likely be the highest in both internet and television history. Advertisers would pay millions$$$$ to advertise internationally with a headliner like that. It’s possible, some news reports are broadcasted because of blogs. Take for example the murder of Latoya Figuerola here in Philly a year or two ago around the same time as that white girls murder during that high school trip in Bermuda. That was only reported repeatedly in the news because bloggers kept complaining that there was no coverage because the girl was Puerto Rican and not white like the girl who was murdered in Bermuda.
Let’s start it. Hit me up at jamil9377@hotmail.com
This fight will be amazing. Both wanting to box and I have all the respect in the world for Kimbo but I think Mercer has the advantage in stand up but this is MMA so theres alot more elements than just boxing. Hopefully one of them learns a bit of submission or something to make it a tad bit more interesting.
i think it will be a good match. im not talkin crap on anybody. kimbo is who im rootin for because hes the man. haha. just look in the kimbo vs gannon video. kimbo got gannon on his back and started doin mad face shots on him. just the way he took him down and did that. i can tell he can do good in the cage. ray mercer, good boxer, but is he a good cage fighter??? we will see.