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There are rumors floating around that aspiring boxer Hasim Rahman Jr, son of two-time heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, will fight former UFC contender, Jimi Manuwa, at an upcoming Misfits Boxing card (a cross-over boxing event likely to be called MF & DAZN: X Series 008). This event, promoted by internet celebrity KSI, is scheduled to happen from Nashville, Tennessee but does not have a concrete date at the time of this article.
Hasim Rahman Jr trying to rebound after Misfits Boxing loss
First reported by NoSmokeSport, the 31-year-old Hasim Rahman Jr. will attempt to bounce back from back-to-back losses by taking on a 43-year-old former light heavyweight UFC fighter Jimi Manuwa, who was known to pack a punch. And probably still does, despite being retired for four-years. The last time we saw Rahman Jr., the son of former heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman, he was dropping a unanimous decision to ex-NFL and ex-UFC fighter Greg Hardy, further proving just how far the apple had fallen from the tree. Before that, he was getting TKO’d by a previously undefeated James McKenzie Morrison. Another loss for Rahman Jr. could spell the end of his prize fighting career.
Jimi Manuwa coming out of retirement for Hasim Rahman Jr
As for Jimi Manuwa, he made his professional MMA debut in 2008, and was slaughtering everything in his path on the U.K. circuit before getting his call up to the UFC in 2012. The ‘Poster Boy’ posterized such names as Corey Anderson and Ovince St. Preux, and also has an extremely well-aged victory over Jan Błachowicz (despite losing the rematch).
The win over Błachowicz is sandwiched between stoppage losses to Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson. Manuwa would later join Gustafsson’s All-Stars gym in Sweden.
It was four-straight losses from 2017-2019 that prompted Manuwa’s exit from the sport. That losing streak included a KO losses to Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos and Aleksander Rakic.
Like so many of his peers, he is now being pulled into the world of influencer boxing well past his prime.
Misfits Boxing becoming the top name in ‘cross-over boxing’
KSI and his fledgling organization are at the forefront of the current ‘cross-over boxing’ trend (sometimes called celebrity boxing or influencer boxing). KSI, who entered the world of combat sports with bouts against current business partner Logan Paul, inked an exclusive deal with DAZN last year to carry Misfits Boxing’s X Series cards.
DAZN has aired seven of these events to date, with plans to go into double figures in the years to come. Their most recent card featured KSI in the main event against pro boxer, and night club promoter, Joe Fournier. Other characters on that card included Salt Papi, Swarmz and WingsOfRedemption.
Previous events have featured social media celebrities, Only Fans creators, musicians and former pro athletes. Misfits Boxing 006 was headlined by former NFL running back La’Veon Bell versus popular YouTuber JMX.