Johnny Manziel played for the Browns in 2014 and joined the Canadian League in 2018. Marcus Ingram / Getty Images
Johnny Football is heading to boxing.
Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and former Cleveland Browns quarterback, will fight social media star Bob Menery in a bout airing on YouTube, Kick, Twitch, X and TikTok on May 23, Brand Risk Promotions announced on Instagram.
The bout will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, with UFC CEO Dana White hosting the event. White previously said he would bet $10,000 on no-showing the event.
“Menery hits me up and says, ‘Who are you betting on?’ I said, ‘I’m betting on you don’t even show up, that’s my bet,’” White said on Instagram in April. “Menery never does anything he says he’s going to do,” White added. “… There’s no way 49 percent of people believe in Bob Menery and that he’s going to show up.”
Manziel, 33, was selected by the Browns in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. He was released less than two years later after throwing for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in 15 appearances. He has since participated in the Canadian Football League, the Alliance of American Football and the startup league Fan Controlled Football.
Menery, 38, rose to fame on Instagram by creating comedic videos and doing voiceovers. He previously hosted a podcast with the Nelk Boys, a popular YouTube group that has created content with White for numerous years.
Brand Risk Promotions is an influencer-boxing promotion founded by streamer Adin Ross. The company has previously promoted events involving retired NFL star Le’Veon Bell, former high school basketball star Julian Newman and prominent podcaster Adam22.
May 7, 2026
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