Shaq, Whitlock to rumble in six months?

Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we may have to set up a fight date for Shaq and Jason Whitlock.

Matters between the two got started on NBA opening night Tuesday when Whitlock, a columnist for FOXSports.com, said Shaq was out of shape. The former All-NBA center and current TNT NBA analyst responded by challenging Whitlock to a fight.

Not only did Whitlock not back down, but he wrote a column in response touting his credentials as a street fighter and former football player.

Shaq wasn’t about to back down from his initial challenge, and Whitlock isn’t tapping out, either.

Shaq said on “Inside the NBA” Thursday that he wanted to fight Whitlock next week. The Big Fella agreed to fight in six months after Whitlock said he wanted that much time to train for the bout.

Name the date Shaq! Any time, any place! (I need at least 6 months to train.) — Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) November 2, 2012

Things are so far along that Shaq received an offer from former heavyweight champion boxer Lennox Lewis to train, much to Whitlock’s disappointment:

What? What? Why not me? RT @lennoxlewis: I’ll volunteer my training services to @shaq for his fight with @whitlockjason. — Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) November 2, 2012

That’s okay — Whitlock believes he can get Floyd Mayweather Jr. in his corner:

I’m gonna reach out to Money May for training. All Star Weekend could be date of the fight. — Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) November 2, 2012

The NBA All-Star Game will be February 17 in Houston. That would only allow the men four and a half months to train. As long as Whitlock finds that acceptable, they should be able to set up the fight. Heck, it could be part of the weekend entertainment.