Ever heard of Tommy Zbikowski? You might have. He’s the safety for the Baltimore Ravens and played football at the University of Notre Dame. He’s also ever so slightly dabbled in professional boxing.
Tommy Zbikowski Challenges Chad Ocho Cinco To Charity Boxing Match
There may be a NFL lockout in 2011, but that won’t stop Balitmore Raven safety Tommy Zbikowski from competing. This time, however, it won’t be on the field. It’ll be in the boxing ring.
This weekend Zbikowski is making the best use of the NFL offseason by taking his second professional boxing match on the undercard of Top Rank’s Miguel Cotto vs. Ricardo Mayorga. He’s fighting a complete zero, a man whose only win comes against another man with four fights, all of which are losses.
Still, folks are paying attention to this endeavor. TR promoter Bob Arum said numerous football players from many different teams will be in attendance at the fight to see Zbikowski compete. Media attention is notable and Zbikowski is doing wonders for his brand.
Today, however, he upped the ante or turned his boxing push into a complete joke depending on how one views the matter. He challenged Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco to a boxing match for charity. Zbikowski throws down the gauntlet via Facebook:
Dear Ocho Cinco (I won’t call you Johnson cause you only get one name change in my book), thanks for following my career...You and me at M&T Bank Stadium, charity four-round boxing match. You wear Orange and Black and I will wear Purple and black. If we do it in May, that should give you enough time to get ready...You game?
In all seriousness, Top Rank and I would like to extend an invitation to Chad Ocho Cinco and his agent to make this fight happen...
As for Chad Johnson (I can’t stand writing ‘8-5’ for a human being’s last name), he responded via Twitter:
@tommyzbikowski you wana go nite nite, you want to box me, for 1 your feet are to slow and you've no hand speed to even be competitive #smh
Chad Ochocinco
ochocinco
I hesitate to even write about this. Johnson’s Twitter shtick is insufferable. He peddles the same intentionally phony omnicompetence combined with ironman levels of commitment to self-promotion. It’s startling self-celebration with less than functional literacy and wit that’s just slightly below Mark Twain.
I won’t pretend I wouldn’t watch, though. The two are roughly equivalent in weight. Zbikowski actually has some measure of boxing skill and would likely tear Johnson’s head off. If it’s anything like Vai Sikahema vs. Jose Canseco, I’m all in. Your move, 8-5.
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