Baltimore Raven Tom Zbikowski to Pound Minnesota Viking Ray Edwards?

Baltimore Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski is scheduled for a four-round bout against Blake Warner Saturday night in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

Zbikowski (3-0, two KOs) narrowly emerged victorious in a four-round decision against Caleb Grummet March 26 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“Tommy Z” hired Hall of Fame trainer Emmanuel Steward to work in his corner mere days before his match with Grummet.

The legendary Steward believes the two-time third-team AP All-American at Notre Dame has not yet scratched the surface of his potential as a prizefighter.

The National Football Post and Baltimore Sun reported “Tommy Z”, who compiled a 75-15 record as an amateur pugilist and advanced to the finals of the Chicago Golden Gloves, has agreed to fight May 21 in Cabazon, Calif., and June 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The Illinois native is legitimately tough, and he could become a force under the tutelage of Steward.

Steward also recently praised the pugilistic potential of another gridiron force, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards.

Edwards, who is 6'5" and listed at 268 pounds, has signed a two-fight contract, and he will make his professional debut May 20 in a four-round bout against an opponent yet to be determined.

In a March appearance on ESPN First Take, Steward first bashed the current crop of heavyweights and then lauded Edwards’ exceptional speed “for such a big man.”

"There's hardly any talent [there]," Steward said of the heavyweight division.

"I actually don't see that much coming up even in the amateur program. Ray, because of his size and his agility, could catch on and move to the top quickly. Heavyweights can do that. There is not that much competition."

Edwards will be trained by former heavyweight boxer and pro wrestler Jeff Warner.

Warner, apparently speaking to the Star Tribune under the influence of angel dust, comically predicted enormous success for Edwards in the squared circle.

"Ray will be the first to come from pro football as a starter and destroy the heavyweight division. Ray is a phenom,” said Edwards of the Vikings 2006 fourth round draft selection out of Purdue University.

“He's a modern-day Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson combined. He's the greatest conditioned heavyweight ever, and he'll knock out any fighter in the world. No one looks like Ray, no one moves like Ray and no one works like Ray."

Edwards, 26, claims he will battle until the NFL collective bargaining dispute is settled.

“You never know when this lockout is going to end,” said Edwards.

"I can be the greatest that ever did it."

Zbikowski, 25, is currently fighting as a cruiserweight at approximately 200 pounds.

Hence, the Boilermaker of yesteryear would have nearly 70 pounds on the former Fighting Irish star.

Nevertheless, despite the delusions of Edwards, Warner and Steward, Zbikowski would absolutely bludgeon the novice in a prizefight.

“Zbikowski is a real boxer,” said boxing fanatic Chris Manning, 32, from Dorchester.

“He’s been doing it his whole life. Edwards has never stepped into the ring.”

Edwards could not “knock out any fighter in the world.”

Actually, Edwards couldn’t even compete with the much-smaller Zbikowski on his best evening.