Former NFL star Frank Gore scored a sensational one-punch knockout on his professional debut against Yaya Olurunsola last night.
The retired running-back has made a switch to the ring after 16 consecutive seasons at the peak of American Football. He lost his first outing by split-decision against NBA star Deron Williams on the undercard of Jake Paul's rematch victory over Tyron Woodley, with the fight downgraded to an exhibition contest at short notice.
Gore has since turned things around and was successful in his maiden sanctioned appearance at the age of 39 as he seeks a successful career in the sport. The former five-team veteran landed a booming right hand in the fourth round to send his opponent crashing to the canvas.
Olurunsola was heavily stiffened by the shot and collapsed to the floor unable to beat the count after being left motionless. The referee immediately stepped in to swiftly halt the action. Gore was competing on the co-main event of the GameBred Promotions 1 event which is a new label created by UFC star Jorge Masvidal.
He walked off with a celebratory swagger after the devastating right hand ended proceedings and he will now likely look to seek his next challenge later this year. The 39-year-old initially began boxing in a bid to maintain his fitness for the NFL season in 2017, but decided to remain dedicated to training after falling in love with the sport.
He later confirmed his plans to take to the ring after spotting the recent rise of YouTube and celebrity boxing globally. "I had to question myself, did I want to do it. With this new stuff going on, Jake Paul and the celebrity stuff. [My coach] was like 'I feel like you should try'. I was [at the gym] every day working out and I loved doing it. I felt like I got good at it," he told Showtime Sports.
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"I'm doing everything they doing now. I'm training, eating right, jogging, boxing in the morning and running at night, not having sex. I'm trying to everything right. I'm not gonna lie, it's tough. This sport is tough.
"I want to look good, I want to win. Each time when I come to work out, whatever my coaches tell me to do I'm giving 110 per cent. It's only me in the ring, I can't hide behind my old linemen, I can't hide behind my receivers, I gotta be ready because it's just me and another man on the other side."
Gore scored 16,000 rushing yards during his career in the NFL representing the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets. His final season came with the Jets in 2020 but he has yet to return to the field since pursuing his new boxing dream.
