Le'Veon Bell Challenges Logan Paul
Former NFL RB Le'Veon Bell publicly called out Logan Paul for a boxing match during NFL Draft weekend in Pittsburgh in April, referencing Paul's past claims about beating any NFL player. Logan Paul fired back, dismissing Bell as not currently in the NFL and citing WWE commitments while arguing there's no financial draw. The exchange highlights growing interest in crossover boxing matches involving NFL figures.
Le'Veon Bell is no stranger to the boxing ring, having competed in both exhibition and professional bouts. He notably knocked out fellow former NFL running back Adrian Peterson in the fifth round of an exhibition match in September 2022. Bell has since transitioned to professional boxing, where he has a record of 2 wins and 1 loss. Logan Paul's boxing experience is a mix of high-profile exhibitions and professional contests. He went the distance with former undefeated world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a 2021 exhibition that had no official winner. His professional record stands at 1 win and 1 loss, with the victory coming via disqualification against Dillon Danis in October 2023. His loss was a split decision to fellow influencer KSI in 2019. The trend of NFL players entering the boxing world is growing. Besides Bell and Peterson, former San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore also turned professional, winning his debut by knockout. Historically, other NFL players like Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Mark Gastineau, and Alonzo Highsmith also pursued boxing careers after their time on the gridiron. These crossover events, often driven by social media personalities, have proven to be significant draws. The "Social Gloves" promotion, which featured the Bell vs. Peterson fight, has previously organized events pitting YouTubers against TikTokers, generating billions of social media impressions. The massive viewership numbers for fights involving Logan Paul's brother, Jake Paul, further highlight the financial appeal of these non-traditional boxing matchups.
