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The most questionable sporting event in recent history has been axed, the promoter has confirmed.
A celebrity boxing match between George Zimmerman and DMX was scheduled to take place on 1 March , but organiser Damon Feldman has since confirmed that it has been cancelled.
Taking to Twitter, he posted that he was “done with Zimmerman”, and that he had made the decision to pull the match because he was “the wrong person to put in a the ring and define celebrity boxing”.
Meanwhile, a member of DMX’s management team, Domenick Nati of Nati Celebrity Services, said in a statement: “Damon Feldman has announced that the George Zimmerman fight is cancelled via his Twitter. As previously stated, DMX never agreed to the fight and we thank you for all of the support from DMX's fans. This situation will not affect any of DMX's upcoming concerts in America or around the world.”
Show all 8 1 /8In pictures: Celebrity boxing fights past, present and future In pictures: Celebrity boxing fights past, present and future George Zimmerman vs. DMX 'X gunna give it to ya:' George Zimmerman has confirmed rapper DMX as his opponent for his highly-anticipated celebrity boxing match, although the date is yet to be confirmed. However, with the rapper's songs containing lyrics such as: "y'all gonna make me lose my mind", it may be wise to have an ambulance at the ready, George
In pictures: Celebrity boxing fights past, present and future Piers Morgan vs. Jeremy Clarkson The mother of all Twitter spats - containing all sorts of expletives - between Jeremy Clarkson and Piers Morgan never quite produced the fight everyone in Britain wanted to see, though Clarkson revealed he punched Morgan in 2012 - breaking his finger in the process. Surely we can work out a solution to make this happen, gentlemen?
In pictures: Celebrity boxing fights past, present and future Charles Saatchi vs. Taki Theodoracopulos Ultimate Fighting Championship contestant - oh, and art collector - Charles Saatchi challenged The Spectator columnist Taki to a no rules, no mercy cage match at the magazine's headquarters in Westminster, after the writer blasted his treatment of Nigella Lawson in a recent column. Snarling alpha-males kicking the living day lights out of each other? Don't mind if we do
In pictures: Celebrity boxing fights past, present and future Noel Gallagher vs. Robbie Williams Any hopes for the most enticing battle between two of the most famous rock, pop, whatever-you-want-to-call-them stars may have diminished, but the running commentary between Liam Gallagher and Robbie Williams' provides fantastic entertainment nonetheless. Gallagher didn't seem too keen on responding to Williams' offer of: "would anyone like to see me fight Liam?" at the Brit Awards in 2000...unless Noel was allowed to take part as well
In pictures: Celebrity boxing fights past, present and future Grant Bovey vs. Ricky Gervais The one where it actually happened. Twelve years ago, 'The Office' star Rocky Gervais triumphed in a comical charity boxing match with Grant Bovey, the ex-husband of Anthea Turner. Gervais won on a points decision after a close-fought match, with Gervais claiming he was happy to do it to "stop pain and suffering for others by suffering pain himself"
In pictures: Celebrity boxing fights past, present and future Vanilla Ice vs. Todd Bridges 'I need some ice, ice baby': it appears that 2002 was the year for celebrity knockouts, as US rapper Vanilla Ice, renowned for his hit song 'Ice, Ice Baby', was given a harsh lesson by tough nut Todd Bridges, taking just three rounds to claim victory
In pictures: Celebrity boxing fights past, present and future Ben Shephard vs. Lemar As part of Comic Relief 2008, then-GMTV presenter Ben 'The a Hammer' Shephard took on singer Lemar 'The Soul Breaker' in a celebrity charity boxing match. With Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton providing mentoring, it promised to be an intriguing encounter, and Shephard eventually turned out to be the unanimous winner on the night despite being the smaller of the two
In pictures: Celebrity boxing fights past, present and future John Pienaar vs. Tony Hadley Safety issues? What safety issues? The BBC were forced to cancel their popular series of 'The Fight' which saw celebrities pitted up against each other to raise money for charity. It would have seen BBC reporter John Pienaar and ballet singer Tony Hadley come face to face, but the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) threatened to revoke trainers' licences due to the danger posed, denying the public probably one of the most entertaining yet worst fights in the history of sport. Perhaps it's not too late?
DMX had previously stated that he would fight Zimmerman for “every black person who has been done wrong in the system”.
“I am going to beat the living f**k out him. I am breaking every rule in boxing to make sure I f**k him right up," he said.
He also threatened to urinate in his face if he won.
Zimmerman was found not guilty of all charges levied against him, after he fatally shot unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin during a fight in February 2012 inside a gated community in Sanford . The 30-year-old Hispanic man claimed that he had killed Martin with a weapon in an act of self-defence.
Zimmerman remained without charge for 44 days after the shooting occurred, which led to nationwide protests and sparked furious debate over racial profiling and the right to use weapons in self-defence. Further demonstrations broke out after Zimmerman was acquitted in 2013.
Federal authorities are currently reviewing the entire case to decide whether Martin’s civil rights were violated.
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