Le’Veon Bell is taking the next step in his transition from pro football to the squared circle of truth. Following his knockout victory against Adrian Peterson, Bell has reportedly signed on for a pro bout against mixed martial arts veteran Uriah Hall. Bell and Hall have agreed to a pro bout at 195 pounds in Glendale, Arizona on October 29, 2022. The high-profile bout will proceed the night’s main event featuring Jake Paul and Anderson Silva.
“I’m just as excited to watch Hall versus Bell as I am for Paul versus Silva,” Most Valuable Promotions Co-Founder Nakisa Bidarian told ESPN.
“You have a legitimate top-10 MMA striker versus a world-class athlete who has proven he has true boxing skills and knockout power. This fight elevates our pay-per-view to a new level and these guys will undoubtedly put on an unforgettable fight for the fans in the stands and those tuning in.”
Le’Veon Bell is a 30-year-old athlete, best known for his exploits in the NFL. During his eight-year NFL career, the Ohio native was selected to the All-Pro team twice and appeared in three Pro Bowls. Following the 2021 season, Bell announced that he would shift his attention toward boxing.
“Boxing is something that, you know, they always say it’s something you can’t play boxing. Last year, I almost sat out the whole year to try to focus on boxing because I kind of knew that was what I wanted to transition to,” Bell said in July.
Le’Veon Bell made his debut in an exhibition against Adrian Peterson on September 11, 2022 in Los Angeles. While the bout was largely uneventful for four rounds, Bell landed a decisive blow in the fifth round that ended the bout with a TKO.
Bell’s opponent, Uriah Hall, is a mixed martial artist with 17 years of experience. He emerged as a top contender within the UFC through his performance in The Ultimate Fighter in 2013. During his nine-year stint with the UFC, he picked up nine stoppage wins as a middleweight. He left the promotion in July and looks to make his pro boxing debut later this month.
Uriah Hall is coming out of retirement to fight former NFL running back Le’Veon Bell on the 10/29 Jake Paul x Anderson Silva card on Showtime PPV. Pro boxing debut for both. Four rounds. 195 pounds.
First reported by @AdamSchefter. pic.twitter.com/U9waKnlGbt
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 6, 2022
