Frank Gore failed to score a win in his amateur boxing debut last year against former NBA star Deron Williams, but that’s not deterring the NFL running back and league’s third-all time leading rusher from giving boxing another go.
Gore will celebrate his 39th birthday in a boxing ring by making his professional debut against an opponent still to be determined on May 14 in Jackson, Mississippi in an event promoted by UFC star Jorge Masvidal’s upstart company Gamebred Promotions.
The announcement was made by Dean Toole, matchmaker for Gamebred Promotions. The hybrid boxing and MMA event will stream on FITE.
On April 2, Gore told TheSFNiners.com that he intends to sign a one-day contract with the 49ers, the franchise that drafted him in 2005 with the 65th overall pick, and officially retire from the NFL.
“I told (49ers owner) Jed York I always want to be a Niner. So we are working on [the one-day deal] right now … We are still trying to figure out when,” said Gore.
The future Hall of Famer Gore starred in the high-profile and entertaining exhibition last year against Williams on the undercard of the second fight between Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley in December. He lost a split decision in the four-round bout, as Williams outlanded him 48 to 39 in total punches, per CompuBox.
While discussing his future involvement in the NFL, Gore also teased that he’d welcome a role in an NFL front office.
“I love looking at talent and I love evaluating talent and I love ball,” said Gore. “They know that I know football players, what it’s supposed to take to be a football player.”
Gore played 16 seasons in the NFL and rushed for 16,000 yards while playing for the 49ers, Colts, Dolphins, Bills, and Jets. Gore scored 81 rushing touchdowns and 18 receiving TDs and last played in 2020.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.