By Phil D. Jay

Kimbo Slice (3-0, 2KOs) will face Robert Bruce (2-0, 2KOs) next month at the O’Reilly Center in Springfield, Missouri, hot on the heels of his first full four-rounder against Charles Hackmann last weekend in Miami.

The 37 year-old, who had knocked his previous two opponents out cold in the first round, looked to tire at certain stages of the 12 minute contest at the Buffalo Run Casino and looks, on paper, to have a sterner test against Bruce, 29, once again over four rounds.

Saint Joseph native Bruce has two stoppage wins in his two professional contests so far, both in the second round, but has been out of the boxing ring for five years and fought two debutants in both bouts.

Slice, real name Kevin Ferguson, will have to get back to his devastating best to convince the non-believers who don’t see the former brawler making any inroads in the boxing ranks at this late stage in his career.