Former NFL running back Frank Gore proved he takes boxing seriously this weekend when he delivered a crushing face plant knockout during his professional boxing debut.
The newly retired NFL legend debuted against opponent Yaya Olorunsola in Saturday’s Gamebred Boxing 1 event in Jackson, Mississippi. Gore flexed his combat sports chops landing a crisp two-punch combination that ended in a vicious right cross that dropped Olorunsola, who fell stiff onto the canvas in the fourth round of the co-main event.
The win came on Gore’s 39th birthday, and the knockout was the cherry on top of an athletic legendary on-field career transitioning into the squared circle.
https://twitter.com/frankgore/status/1525669259304738816?s=20&t=3PjUE5-y6p3dw_A9exXBxQ
Gamebred Gore
The event was promoted by UFC fighter Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal’s Gamebred Fighting Championships.
Gore now starts his professional career 1-0, 1 KO in a sport where he began in an exhibition bout against three-time NBA All-Star Deron Williams on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley II last December.
“I’ve been training in boxing since 2006, but that was just to get in shape for football,” Gore said last December before the fight during the “All The Smoke” podcast.
“This boxing thing is for real. I would never call someone sorry who tries to make a living in this sport. For the first week I was like ‘what have I got myself into?'”
Former NFL running back Frank Gore with a huge knockout 👊🏈
(via @bovadaofficial) pic.twitter.com/WjoxEHiz7q
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) May 15, 2022
Rough Start
Gore started solid but shaky with a potential professional boxing career through a high-profile exhibition bout on Showtime.
Gore landed 38 of 166 punches thrown to Williams’ 48 of 156 punches throughout the four rounds. The 6-foot-3 Williams, who held an eight-inch reach advantage, also out-connected the 5-foot-9 Gore 35-28 on power punches.
Williams came out victorious on the judges’ scorecards via split-decision in the four-round spectacle. The scores read 38-37 and 40-35 in favor of Williams and 38-37 in favor of Gore.
Both legends from opposing sports came out swinging in the first round of their exhibition boxing debuts. The frantic action saw both fighters exchange big right hands, and in the second round, the action continued at a lightning pace.
FRANK GORE WITH THE KO IN BILOXI pic.twitter.com/7XRyMtEVHi
— Law (@_matchesXmalone) May 15, 2022
From Sloppy To Choppy
Both Gore and Williams fought sloppy, wrestling each other through the ropes. However, the signature moment of the fight occurred when Gore showed his inexperience and stopped defending himself for an instant. Williams capitalized by landing a massive right hand that stunned Gore. With the former San Francisco 49er star holding himself up against the ropes, referee Christopher Young scored a knockdown for Williams.
After his initial exhibition event, Gore left room for a continuation of his boxing career.
“We’ll see if I fight again,” Gore said during the post-fight press conference. “I had fun tonight. I’ll go back and talk to my team to see what’s next.”
From The Field To The Ring
Undeniably, Gore is taking boxing seriously, and the Miami native showed that the hard work and dedication since that fight is paying off.
One of the most accomplished running backs in NFL history, Gore is a 16-season veteran. He played for five teams, including the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and the New York Jets.
Gore rushed for 16,000 yards, falling only behind Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton in NFL history.
