Former Nets star Deron Williams is set to take on ex-NFL great Frank Gore in a boxing match on the undercard of a Jake Paul event.
This is not unfamiliar territory for the crafty guard. Williams’ first sport was wrestling and MMA has always caught the former Illinois’ product’s eye.
“I grew up wrestling,” the 37-year-old said in an interview with TMZ Sports in 2018. “Wrestling was actually my first sport. I won two state championships in the state of Texas, wrestling AAU when I was younger. Of course I had to give it up when I got to high school because it’s the same season as basketball. I think because of that wrestling background, I’ve always been drawn to the sport MMA.”
The NFL running back may have a physical advantage over Williams, weighing in at 216 pounds, but don’t count the former Nets guard out. He’s been focused on training, sparring with Sayif Saud and others for this moment.
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
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