Just hours before the first full slate of Sunday games in the 2022 NFL season, a pair of former running back greats, Le’Veon Bell and Adrian Peterson, met in the boxing ring for an exhibition bout.
Despite the contest not carrying the characterization of a professional contest, the former All-Pro backs went at it with bad intentions, resulting in a devastating knockout at Social Gloves 2.
The first four rounds of the fight left much to be desired. However, in the fifth and final round, a crushing right hand from Bell left Peterson’s head ringing as he fell to the canvas.
Check out video of the finish below (via Twitter):
Leveon Bell just knocked out Adrian Peterson to officially kick off the NFL season pic.twitter.com/f4GznfKskJ
— Dan Canobbio (@DanCanobbio) September 11, 2022
As the first full Sunday of #NFL Football approaches, @LeVeonBell turned Adrian Peterson's world upside down last night in Los Angeles in their #boxing match on the #McBroomGib undercard
See it on-demand w/ unlimited replays on #FITE.
📺: https://t.co/kjrYHFOV0y pic.twitter.com/fTlzE7XGED
— FITE (@FiteTV) September 11, 2022
Bell, 30, weighed in at 204.8 pounds for the fight. He played 96 games in the NFL in his career, making three Pro Bowl appearances and two All-Pro teams. Last season, he played in a total of eight games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens before turning his attention to the boxing ring.
Peterson, 37, weighed in at 218 pounds. The vet who played with seven NFL franchises is fifth on the all-time rushing list with 14,918 yards and also split eight games in the 2021 season with the Tennesse Titans and Seattle Seahawks.
Social Gloves 2 took place Saturday at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles and was headlined by social media influencers Austin McBroom vs. AnEsonGib.