Veteran Boxer Wants to Fight MMA: Hasim Rahman Edition

Sherdog reports that the former boxing champion is serious about wanting a piece of the MMA pie:

In news sure to perk up the ears of both boxing and MMA fans alike, “The Rock,” whose boxing career was defined by some of the strangest twists of fate this side of Riddick Bowe, wants to step into the new sport. And fast.

Gelke said that the 36-year-old Rahman is “quite serious about fighting in MMA” and they are currently in negotiations with several promotions, hoping to line up a debut fight sometime in the next 2-3 months. The ex-champ -- whose boxing career went south after losing a rematch to Lennox Lewis -- built a reputation on a big right hand in the sweet science, though he was also inconsistent and at times seemed to lack the impetus to get in shape.

“He thought it would be an interesting thing. He’s seen Kimbo Slice fight on TV, and he’s like, ‘I’d like to fight some of these guys,’” said Gelke.

Two aspects of the above excerpt are quite telling.  First, Rahman apparently intends to make his entry into MMA "fast."  Second, he saw Kimbo on TV and wants to fight some of those guys.  Call me cynical (or realistic), but it sounds as if Rahman's true desire is to cash in while the growing sport is white hot.  Anyone who seriously follows MMA knows that becoming a legitimate mixed martial artist in this era involves a significant amount of work and time.  Judging from what I've gathered, this isn't the course that the thirty-something Rahman is looking to take.

MMA bouts between notable boxers with little or no skill beyond their boxing and low level or past-their-prime mixed martial artists serves virtually no long-term benefit to either sport.  It won't prove that one sport is superior to the other, and it won't foster any new interest in either sport as a result of the affair.  It's simply the watering down of a growing sport for short-term gain by a small number of individuals.  Certainly, the adults in question are free to do what they want, but fans don't have to accept a side show type match as a genuine representation of what MMA has become.