Frank Gore, who played for the San Francisco 49ers, will be going up against Deron Williams, a former point guard for the NBA team Utah Jazz, in a boxing match later this year as an undercard clash between Tommy Fury and Jake Paul.

The fight, which is scheduled for December 18, 2021, and will be organised in Florida’s Tampa, will be the pro boxing debuts for both renowned athletes. The bout is contracted for four rounds and 215 pounds.

Gore, who is managed by veteran flight rep Malka Kawa, has reportedly been training in boxing for years and has turned down offers from NFL teams to divert his attention towards his first bout, according to reports from ESPN.

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Additionally, the 38-year-old has spent more than a dozen seasons in the league, mostly with the San Francisco 49ers. He is also a five-time Pro Bowl pick and has secured his place in the top three ranks of NFL with nearly 16,000 rushing yards.

Willams, who has previously represented the United States Basketball team in the Olympic games and has secured two gold medals, has reportedly trained in mixed martial arts for years and is also a combat sports enthusiast. 

“Combat sports have been a part of my life since my youngest days,” Williams said in a statement.

According to reports from ESPN, he partly owns the highly regarded Fortis MMA gym in Texas’ Dallas, which is where he will be training for this bout under coach Sayif Saud.

Williams’ statement added, “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”, according to reports from ESPN.