Sources close to Bloody Elbow can exclusively confirm that the heretofore unnamed opponent of former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley set to square off at Roy Jones Jr.'s mixed boxing and MMA event known as "March Badness" is none other than Ken Shamrock.
Shamrock is coming off a recent submission victory over Ross Clifton at the inaugural Wargods event on February 13, 2009. Lashley is coming off of his professional MMA debut, stopping Joshua Franklin at a Mixed Fighting Alliance event on December 13, 2008. The bout will be contested at heavyweight.
The Lashley vs. Shamrock bout is part of an hybrid boxing-mixed martial arts card being assembled and promoted by former Ring Magazine pound-for-pound greatest boxer alive in Roy Jones, Jr. Jones's promotional company, Square Ring Promotions, Inc., has scheduled the event to take place at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida and will be broadcast live on pay-per-view. According to published reports, a press conference had been scheduled for Feb. 11 to formally announce the event. There are no updates and when or if there will be a formal press conference. The event itself is scheduled for March 21st.
Also appearing on the card will be Jones himself as he takes on Omar Sheika in a light heavyweight boxing bout. BJ Flores is also set to fight on the card, although the opponent has not yet been named.
In MMA action, former victor over Kimbo Slice and season two veteran of "The Ultimate Fighter" in Seth Petruzelli will lock horns with former WEC light heavyweight champion Doug "The Rhino" Marshall. Another MMA bout scheduled to take place involves former IFL heavyweight champion Roy Nelson taking on former UFC heavyweight contender Jeff "The Snowman" Monson.
Lashley will be fighting for only his second time in professional MMA competition, however, concerns have swirled surrounding Ken Shamrock's health and ability to fight at the professional level given his age as well as the damge he has sustained over the course of his career. Shamrock's only recent win comes against a 6-9 Ross Clifton. The 45 year-old has lost five of his last six professional matches and was removed from the EliteXC: Heat card in October of 2008 just hours prior to his fight due to injuries allegedly sustained during pre-fight warm-ups.
UPDATE: I suppose its a good thing if even when you get scooped no one realizes, but Loretta thinks I'm late to the party:
Shamrock’s manager, Roy Donohoo, confirmed that contracts for the clash between veteran and newcomer were signed on Monday. Dave Meltzer, of TheWrestlingObserver.com, was the first to report on the bout.
Don't lose your mind, folks: I didn't borrow this. I have a legitimate source. If I got scooped, so be it. I didn't realize I had, but c'est la vie. Just don't think this was borrowed. Props, Dave.
