The mixed martial arts world is getting blessed with a perfectly cast actor to play famed street-turned-MMA fighter, Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson.
Winston Duke, who recently broke out as TChallas “frenemy” MBaku in Marvels multi-billion dollar grossing Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, is taking on the role in the movie Backyard Legend.
Duke, is also attached to star in Jordan Peeles upcoming movie Us.
Kimbo Slice Street Fight
Uploaded by World Entertainment on 2016-12-31.
Im looking forward to exploring Kimbos story and interrogating the expectations society places on men like him who are their own special breed of hero, said Duke via statement.
Winston Duke to star in Kimbo Slice biopic
The Black Panther actor will play the role of late MMA fighter Kevin ‘Kimbo Slice’ Ferguson in Backyard Legend, according to Deadline.
The screenplay about the Bahamian-born brawler who rose from homelessness to mixed martial arts fame after his brutal back yard fights drew a huge YouTube audience. Kimbo Slice died suddenly in June 2016 at 42 years old from heart failure and a liver mass.
Ferguson battled high blood pressure for years, yet he insisted on fighting months before his death, winning a three-round heavyweight match against Dhafir Dada 5000 Harris at Bellator 149.
Before he passed away, Ferguson was scheduled to fight James Thompson in the main event at Bellator 158. The two fought before in the now-defunct EliteXC league, where Slice hit the shot heard round world when bursting Thompson’s ear.
Kimbo Slice vs Tank Abbott in MMA fight
Kimbo Slice beats Tank Abbott during the Pro Elite days Learn MMA yourself http://tinyurl.com/MMAforlife
Michael “Icey Mike” Imber, Kimbos longtime friend, manager, and partner in Reality Kings adult entertainment company, will be prominently depicted in the film as well for a role that has yet to be cast. Imber will also serve as an Executive Producer.
Slice had six children: three sons and three daughters including Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson, Jr. who is also a mixed martial artist in Bellator.
