Boxing legend Mike Tyson has recalled the day Internet sensation Kimbo Slice passed away.
Slice died on June 6, 2016 due to heart failure. It was later revealed that Slice had a mass on his liver. Slice was 42 years old.
During a recent edition of his Hotboxin’ podcast, Tyson said he was present when Slice died (via Essentially Sports).
“I was there when he died. I was at that fight and where was that fight, Virginia, I was there when he died. He fought his bodyguard.
“Well, he died in the hospital but I could say the way he was. Look it was just really scary.”
Slice, real name Kevin Ferguson, gained popularity through videos of his street fights. He soon transitioned to the national level, competing on the CBS network under EliteXC. Slice won the first three fights of his pro MMA career, all via KO or TKO. His first setback was against Seth Petruzelli, suffering a TKO loss in 14 seconds.
After EliteXC went out of business, Slice joined The Ultimate Fighter, losing to Roy Nelson via second-round TKO. The UFC ended up signing Slice to a contract. The Internet sensation defeated Houston Alexander in his official UFC debut. Slice went on to fight Matt Mitrione in a losing effort.
Slice then tested the waters in boxing. He went 7-0 with six of those victories coming by way of knockout. Slice followed that up with two fights under the Bellator banner. He defeated Ken Shamrock and initially was awarded a victory over Dada 5000. The win against Dada 5000 was overturned to a No Contest after Slice failed a drug test.
