Bellator is set to offer Kevin Ferguson Jr., the chance of a career in mixed martial arts, just months after his father Kimbo Slice fought his last ever fight.
Slice, real name Kevin Ferguson, passed away in June due to heart failure at the age of 42.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/740075378308435968
The heavyweight fighter was scheduled to rematch James Thompson at Bellator 158 in London before he died, and there were suggestions at the time that his eldest son would replace him on the card.
And while they proved to be mere rumours, Bellator president Scott Coker has seemingly decided to give Kevin Ferguson Jr., a fight in August.
Ferguson is set to compete on the undercard of Bellator 160 on August 26, according to reports from the
Associated Press.
"I was always around the fight business and everything, so I saw it and I understood what was going on," Ferguson told the AP. "I just knew without a doubt that one day, this was what I wanted to do."
Ferguson made his amateur debut in March and finished his opponent in just over a minute, exhibiting shades of his father's striking prowess and tenacity in the process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4o00fGtL4Y
"I trained (in MMA) a little bit in college, but not really," Ferguson said. "I was more focused on having fun and partying a little bit, getting that out of my system early. I trained a little bit, like once a week."
In recent months, though, Ferguson has stepped up his focus on training and is now working out of Antonio McKee's gym in California and he credits his new coach with providing an added spark to his desire to become a well-rounded mixed martial artist.
"Antonio just changed the game for me," Ferguson said. "He understood what I needed, and he understands the science behind it all."
An opponent has yet to be selected for Ferguson although that will likely change in the coming days as the event, headlined by a lightweight match-up between Benson Henderson and Patricio "Pitbull" Freire, is just four weeks away.
