Former NBA All-Star Deron Williams will fight former Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore on the undercard of the Jake Paul-Tommy Fury main event next month.
The four-round fight on Dec. 18 in Tampa, Fla., will mark the pro boxing debuts for both men.
“I’m excited to be fighting on this card and can’t wait to show the world what I’ve been working on,” Gore said in a statement. “Boxing has me excited, and on Dec. 18 expect fireworks!”
Gore, 38, played in 15 games (14 starts) for the New York Jets in 2020. He sits third all-time in NFL history with 16,000 rushing yards. He earned Pro Bowl honors five times in a 16-year career spent mostly with the San Francisco 49ers (2005-14).
Williams, 37, last played in 2016-17 with the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a three-time All-Star who averaged 16.3 points and 8.1 assists in 845 career games (771 starts) with four teams, most notably the Utah Jazz (2005-11).
“Combat sports have been a part of my life since my youngest days,” Williams said in a statement. “Before I was a basketball player, I was a wrestler. Since 2015, I have had the privilege of owning an MMA gym, and through that I have trained in various martial arts to stay active. Over the last year, I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to translate my training into a professional debut.”
The fight is set for 215 pounds.
–Field Level Media
