Three-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Deron Williams will take on legendary San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore in a professional heavyweight boxing match that will take place on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury, live on SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, December 18 at AMALIE Arena in Tampa. The four-round heavyweight bout will be contested with a 215-pound contractual limit as the two legends make their professional boxing debuts.
The pay-per-view telecast begins live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, is produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV and will feature Paul and Fury in the main event in an eight-round cruiserweight bout contested at a 192-pound catchweight. Seven-division world champion Amanda Serrano will face off against interim lightweight titlist Miriam Gutiérrez in a 10-round lightweight bout in the co-main event.
Tickets for the live event will be available for purchase on November 10, 2021 at www.amaliearena.com.
Before his NBA debut, Williams attended University of Illinois where he played college basketball and led them to the Final Four in 2005. He subsequently landed the third overall NBA draft pick from the Utah Jazz. Aside from his time in the NBA, Williams also earned gold medals for the U.S. national team in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games. In his boxing debut, fans can expect to see Williams’ all-around athleticism as he taps into his lifelong love for combat sports. As a child, Williams’ first sport was wrestling, which he competed in for eight years. During that time, he won two state titles. His passion for combat sports has remained an integral part of his training regime ever since.
“Combat sports have been a part of my life since my youngest days. Before I was a basketball player, I was a wrestler,” said Williams. “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. I’m making that happen on December 18 against Frank, one of the physically strongest NFL players in history.”
A University of Miami alum, Gore was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005 as a third-round draft pick and remained a key player of the team for 10 straight seasons. During his time as a Niner, the running back gained notoriety for his rare and impressive athletic ability. Gore received five Pro Bowl selections, earned the title of rushing yards leader and played in Super Bowl XLVII throughout his stint on the 49ers. Gore said goodbye to the Bay Area in 2014 and continued his NFL career playing for the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. Ranked third in all-time rushing yards and holding the NFL record for most games played as a running back, Gore’s boxing debut is a must see.
“I’m excited to be fighting on this card and can’t wait to show the world what I’ve been working on,” said Gore. “Boxing has me excited, and on December 18 expect fireworks!”