DMX to fight George Zimmerman?

George Zimmerman was the man who shot and killed teenager Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida in 2012. Subsequently acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter, he has become a celebrity hate figure in the USA, and the starting point for many an argument about the state of race relations in the country. Now, celebrity boxing promoter Damon Feldman is hoping to capitalise on Zimmerman's infamy in a bizarre non-professional boxing match – pitting the overweight Zimmerman against ripped rapper DMX. 

Feldman announced the match between Zimmerman and a then-unnamed opponent to TMZ last week, stating that the fight was not racially motivated. "We're not looking at it as a race thing," commented the promoter. "We haven't discussed purple, yellow, white, black." Later, it emerged that rapper The Game had offered to take up the challenge, saying: "I’d be boxing for the legacy of Trayvon Martin and for his family."

Clearly, this is a situation in which which many in the hip-hop community feel justice has not been served, and now Feldman's undeniably tasteless decision to stage the bout has drawn DMX into the fray. The troubled rap star, who was in court more than once last year for traffic and drug-related offences, has been selected from more than 15,000 applicants as the man to fight Zimmerman, according to CNN.

DMX commented to TMZ that he would fight Zimmerman "for every black person who has been done wrong in the system," going on to promise: "I am going to beat the living fuck out him… I am breaking every rule in boxing to make sure I fuck him right up... Once I am done with him, I am going to whip my dick out and piss on him… right in his muthafuckin face. Zimmerman is a piece of shit and that’s what he needs to drink.” Although no contracts have yet been signed according to FACT Magazine, it looks like this celebrity Def match is on. 

UPDATE: The planned bout between George Zimmerman and DMX has been cancelled. TMZ reports that promoter Damon Feldman is "done with George Zimmerman." The reasons for his cancellation are not specified, although it seems the controversy (and potential profit to be made) around the match have both played a part, with Feldman commenting: "If you had a major payday sitting in front of you, I know no one else would walk away like I did... [there is] more to life than money." 

A spokesman for the DMX camp also commented on the cancellation, stating: "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."