Le’Veon Bell joins Jake Paul-Anderson Silva card in Arizona
Oct 6, 2022, 11:12 AM
LeVeon Bell, white trunks, knocks out Adrian Peterson in the fifth round at Banc of California Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Former Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell will box mixed martial arts fighter Uriah Hall during the pay-per-view event headlined by Jake Paul and Anderson Silva on Oct. 29 in Glendale, Ariz.
The fight at Desert Diamond Arena, formerly known as Gila River Arena, will be the first pro boxing event for both Bell and Hall.
They will square off in a four-round match at a cruiserweight level contracted at 195 pounds.
The card is presented by Most Valuable Promotions and Showtime Sports, and it will be available on Showtime pay-per-view.
Bell, however, has match experience, having knocked out fellow former NFL running back Adrian Peterson in an exhibition bout in September.
Bell played in 96 career NFL games, piling up 6,554 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns on the ground with an additional 3,289 receiving yards.
“As soon as Most Valuable Promotions approached me about joining the Paul-Silva pay-per-view, I told them, ‘I want in,’ and didn’t care who the opponent was,” Bell said in a release. “Uriah Hall is going to feel my punching power and tap out like he’s getting submitted. He is not built like me.”
Hall participated in MMA with UFC and Bellator, going 17-11 with an MMA-record 14 knockouts. His eight TKOs are tied with Anderson Silva and Thiago Silva for the most KO/TKOs in UFC middleweight history.
“Le’Veon Bell, I hope you bring your best,” Hall said in a release. “I know I will.”
Bell and Hall will hold a virtual press conference hosted by Ariel Helwani next Thursday.
In the main event, social media personality Paul and UFC legend Anderson Silva will box for up to eight rounds at a catchweight of 187 pounds.
Silva is one of the all-time MMA greats who held the longest UFC title reign for 2,457 days. He turned to boxing last year.
Paul has not fought since December when he defeated former UFC champion Tyron Woodley via knockout.
“Adding NFL superstar Le’Veon Bell to the card only increases this fight’s star power and to have him go head-to-head with a fighter as experienced and dangerous as Uriah Hall – it’s going to be fireworks,” Paul said in a statement. “Taking on this challenge is proof that Bell, like myself, is serious about professional boxing and after his knockout of Adrian Peterson, he looks like a force to be reckoned with.
“Hall on the other hand has already proven himself multiple times in the UFC, and we know what he is capable of. I’m keeping a close eye on this one and may even take on the winner in the future.”
