Kimbo Slice Walks Away from His Hall Of Fame Boxing Career

It was announced earlier this week that former streetfighter and mixed martial artist Kimbo Slice retired from boxing in October before ever stepping into the ring.

Promoter Gary Shaw told MMA Fighting that Slice decided to quit “The Sweet Science” this past autumn.

"Kimbo left the boxing training camp due to some various injuries and to go film The Scorpion King. Upon his return, he didn't show me any interest in boxing, so we just decided for right now to put it to the side," said Shaw, who promoted Slice during his three-year foray into MMA.

"In boxing, in order to be amongst the best in the world, he was going to have to put in double the work he was accustomed to. Due to the wear and tear on his body, he wasn't able to perform up to the standard we wanted him to."

Before he “hung-up the gloves,” Slice expressed seemingly sincere interest last summer in pursuing a career in prizefighting.

“I feel like a baby all over again,” said Slice, 36, who earned a tryout in 1997 with the Miami Dolphins as a middle linebacker and participated with their preseason squad. “I’m thinking about this at night. I’m gonna be a problem in the heavyweight division. I’m going to be coming in with a bad demeanor. I want to see what it’s like to break some ribs, break a jaw with one punch.”

Slice, who accumulated a mark of 4-2 as a mixed martial artist, further emphasized his desire to become a legitimate boxer.

“This is a career move. I love fighting. I like to knock people the (expletive) out. I love engaging. Maybe some people think I’m crazy.”

Slice, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, gained his fame as a Miami hooligan who knocked bums onto Queer Street in brawls and posted videos of his violent thrashings on YouTube.

Slice is six feet and one inch tall, and he tips the scales at approximately 225 lbs.

There is zero question that Slice possessed tremendous power in both of his fists and he has shown surprising boxing skills in the streets for an individual without formal training in the ring.

If Slice had entered the squared circle in the prime of his physical abilities, he possibly could have flourished and inflicted serious damage against opponents in a division devoid of talent.

“If he got into boxing when he was 26, instead of 36, I think he could have been a real force as a boxer,” said Brad Sherwood, 30, a South Boston resident who works as a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym in Medford (Mass). “But, he isn’t 26.”

It was reported Tuesday that Slice will participate in the Inoki Genome Federation pro wrestling organization eight-man tournament on February 5 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Shaw said he was surprised to hear of Slice's new gig, but added, "I think Kimbo Slice's days as a fighter are close to an end."

Slice is now officially a pseudo “fighter.”

However, in actuality, wasn’t Kimbo Slice always a sham?