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Veteran Boxer Wants to Fight MMA: Hasim Rahman Edition

Rahmansp5_medium 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.

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your not cynical at all. trying to make a quick and “easy” buck is exactly what rahmann is trying to do. hell, boxers havent’ even been able to cross over to k-1, let alone mma. i can remember vince phillips almost getting his leg broke from leg kicks and shannon briggs was a bust as well. i’m sure he thinks by watching he can get fights with guys who will do nothing but stand with him, but i think he is in for a rude awakening the 1rst time he gets taken down.

by bdw on Feb 26, 2009 10:41 AM EST reply actions  

Botha kept up with it the longest.

by RoyalB on Feb 26, 2009 11:30 AM EST up reply actions  

Maybee he wants to fight a pure wrestler. MMA striking has came along way and it would be a bad idea for him to go up against some expert strikers.

by Bandaka on Feb 26, 2009 11:41 AM EST up reply actions  

in the heavyweight division he’ll want to stick to the Ken Shamrock/Tank Abbott level. If he’s really feeling ballsy he should fight Tim Sylvia or Andrei Arlovski in straight boxing matches.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Feb 26, 2009 12:08 PM EST up reply actions  

mm delicious hematoma

by pr0cs on Feb 26, 2009 10:52 AM EST reply actions  

Until MMA pays much more than boxing — rather than much less, there’s no point in a young and top flight boxer making the transition to MMA. They have too much to learn — unlike wrestling they don’t even enter MMA with a solid game for one of the three aspects (standing/clinch/ground) since they have to modify their stance so much to deal with leg kicks and takedowns.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Feb 26, 2009 10:54 AM EST reply actions  

that is one massive freakin’ lump on dude’s head. it makes me giggle every time i see it.

by bobthewriter on Feb 26, 2009 10:56 AM EST reply actions  

I agree with you one hundred percent

But I’m still more of a fan of this than Tim Sylvia boxing Mercer.

"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR

by Rundownloser on Feb 26, 2009 11:10 AM EST reply actions  

have to agree with you there. But both are cases of boxers with diminished earnings power in mainstream boxing looking for a quick buck in MMA.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Feb 26, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions  

When in doubt, take the option not involving Tim Sylvia…

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Feb 26, 2009 12:17 PM EST up reply actions  

David Haye is a much more intriguing prospect since he’s younger, not washed up and actually a fan of MMA who’s been training jiu jitsu and indicating he’d take MMA seriously as a distinct sport.

"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"

by Kid Nate on Feb 26, 2009 11:39 AM EST reply actions  

I think the only boxer right now that has a respectable chance of being a decent mma fighter is Kermit Cintron… He has one punch knockout power and has a pretty good wrestling background, but odds are that there will never be a crossover star.

Rahman just wants a paycheck… nothing more./

by Zocalo on Feb 26, 2009 11:07 PM EST up reply actions  

If he thinks Kimbo Slice is the pinnacle of heavyweight MMA he’s in for a rude awakening.

by Andy R on Feb 26, 2009 11:57 AM EST reply actions  

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