Deron Williams won his pro boxing debut on Saturday night, and he is going out while he is on top.
The former NBA guard defeated ex-NFL running back Frank Gore in a heavyweight bout on the Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley undercard Saturday. Williams, who eventually won by split decision, turned the fight into an action-packed brawl.
DERON WILLIAMS SHOVED FRANK GORE DOWN 😮
(via @ShowtimeBoxing)pic.twitter.com/CvJpUUxX2r
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 19, 2021
After he was announced as the victor, Williams had a great mic-drop moment in his interview with Ariel Helwani — he declared his retirement.
“I’m going to go sit my old dumb a– down somewhere and let these professionals do their s—,” said Williams.
“Honestly, I probably looked terrible out there,” he added. “I feel like my last five sparring sessions, I was on point. My head wasn’t coming up. As soon as you get out here, you start getting touched, it’s a whole different, all your training goes out the window. It was fun. I’m glad I had a chance to come out here and do it. But like I thought coming into this, I’m one-and-done.”
The 37-year-old Williams, who has MMA experience, was hyping himself up a bit before the fight and appears to have made good on his word.
Williams now finishes his boxing career a perfect 1-0, which is good enough for him. At least he comes away from the ring looking better than his opponent did.
Photo: Nov 1, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) warms up before the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
