'Baby Slice' welcomes Kimbo comparisons, opportunities beyond MMA
Kimbo Slice cast a long shadow and his son wouldn't have it any other way.
This Saturday, Kevin Ferguson Jr. - aka "Baby Slice" - makes his professional MMA debut at Bellator 165 in San Jose, Calif. He competes five months after his father's death due to heart failure, and there is already plenty of buzz around the 24-year-old as he follows in the elder Slice's fighting footsteps.
Ferguson recently spoke to theScore about his growing notoriety and the opportunities it could create for him outside of MMA.
"I love it," said Ferguson. "I like the exposure. I like people knowing who I am. It feels good. Maybe I'll get tired of it after a while but for right now I like it. I don't mind it. It comes with the business."
Right now, business is good for Ferguson. He competed in his first amateur bout this past March, a one-round drubbing of Tom Brink that had the fighting community buzzing about his potential.
Like his father, Ferguson has his sights set on goals beyond the confines of the cage. His coaches laud him for his natural knockout power and he's already picturing himself strapping on a pair of boxing gloves in the future.
"I definitely want to box," said Ferguson. "I want to box as soon as possible honestly. If I could do it after this fight, I would take a pro boxing match after this fight."
Ferguson isn't sure if Bellator will allow him to take a boxing match while he's under contract with the organization. However, it's not far-fetched to imagine the promotion adding the sweet science to a portfolio that includes both MMA and kickboxing, especially if it has a name to build around.
"We should figure that because if I can (box) that would be great," said Ferguson. "I guess I'll be the first, I'll box in all Bellator gear. Bellator shorts, Bellator shoes, the whole nine."
Movies and TV opportunities could also be in Ferguson's future, and he's looking forward to increasing his Q rating while evolving as a fighter. Part of becoming a star means conquering the existing ones. Fortunately for Ferguson, Bellator houses several veterans with plenty of mainstream cache.
"I want to fight one of the old guys like a Tito Ortiz, Chael Sonnen, or Wanderlei Silva," said Ferguson. "One of those guys, if they can come down to 160, 165, let's do it. Let's sign that contract and let's bang, get it done."
While it's unlikely that any of the three can drop down to meet Ferguson at a catchweight, those names indicate his level of ambition. There are sure to be doubters, but Ferguson relegated those voices to background noise long ago.
"Even if they did (try to talk me out of fighting), I wouldn't listen to them," said Ferguson. "This is my choice at the end of the day, something I want to do. And I don't mind living in the shadow of my father, I'm OK with that. It works for me."