:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/671694/GYI0060397906.jpg)
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards made his pro boxing debut last night, winning what ESPN 1500 called a "sloppy" fight against T.J. Gibson. From their recap:
The defensive end-turned-heavyweight fought through nerves and cramps to beat Duluth's T.J. Gibson at Grand Casino Hinckley with an uneven, unremarkable performance that drew scattered boos from a near-capacity crowd and mild disappointment from his trainer.
"I've got some things to work on, like not having diarrhea all day," Edwards said. "But I think I did well."
On the strength of two knockdowns, Edwards swept the judges' scorecards 40-34, 39-35 and 40-34.
Edwards was all smiles as he walked off, shaking hands with some of his Minnesota Vikings teammates. But a few jeers could be heard, including one call of "Don't quit your day job!" that summed up the crowd's frustration as Edwards settled for a decision against his much smaller foe.
"He could have took the guy out, but it was his first pro fight," said Edwards' trainer, Jeff Warner. "I think he was a little jittery. But at least he kept jabbing. He had him hurt a couple times and he didn't get overanxious. I wish he would have been a little more revved up."
Yeah sounds like a real winner of an idea overall. I'm sure Warner is right, that Edwards is Ali + Tyson + Mayweather and destined for boxing greatness.
Anyway, guess who's name has come up in this ongoing non-boxers boxing for money parade? If you guessed Kimbo Slice, YOU BETCHA! Jared Shaw, the son of promoter Gary Shaw (also known as, ugh, "$kala"), is ignoring Kimbo Slice's clear desire to never be a professional boxer by trying to hype up a fight between Slice and Edwards:
"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.
"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."
... "Some people will call it a circus, but you can call it whatever you want. It's two guys who are willing to get in the ring and bang it out. I don't really call that a circus."
Well, I would call it a circus, except that would be an insult to the hard-working people of America's touring circuses. They never did anything to me.
If I were managing Ray Edwards' career, what I'd have him do is fight Zack Page. I mean he's not any good, he has a losing record. Yes. I think Ray Edwards should fight Zack Page.