Former NBA All-Star point guard Deron Williams set to fight future NFL Hall of Famer Frank Gore in a boxing match. They are set to undercard the Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury fight in Tampa Florida on December 18th, per ESPN.
Williams and Gore are both making their pro boxing debuts, they agreed on fighting at 215 pounds and four rounds.
ESPN Sources: Three-time NBA All-Star Deron Williams is fighting longtime NFL running back Frank Gore in a four-round heavyweight bout on Showtime’s PPV undercard of Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury on Dec. 18 at Amalie Arena in Tampa.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 9, 2021
Deron Williams and Frank Gore boxing background
Deron Williams is longtime boxing and MMA sports enthusiast. Williams spent several years training and studying martial arts. He’s part-owner of the famous Fortis MMA gym in Dallas, Texas. This is where he is set to train for his debut under coach Sayif Saud, according to ESPN.
At 38 years old, Gore has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times and holds the impressive third place in NFL history with 16,000 rushing yards. He spent 16 seasons in the league, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers, where he became their all-time leading rusher. His most recent team was the New York Jets.
“I’m thrilled to fight on this card and can’t wait to showcase what I’ve been working on,” Gore stated. “Boxing has me pumped, and on December 18, expect an explosive performance!”
The 37-year-old Williams, a former NBA All-Star with the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets, has also had success winning gold at the Olympics in 2008 and 2012. While not as accomplished in his current sport as Gore is in his, he still garners respect from his peers.
“Combat sports have always been a part of my life,” Williams explained. “Before basketball, I was a wrestler. Since 2015, I’ve owned an MMA gym, and I’ve trained in various martial arts to stay active. Over the past year, I’ve been eagerly waiting for the right opportunity to make my professional debut and put my training into action.”
