Johnny Manziel will become the latest former professional athlete to enter the boxing ring.
Brand Risk Promotions announced the former Texas A&M quarterback and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner will match up with social media influencer Bob Menery at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on May 23. According to The Athletic’s Zach Powell, UFC CEO Dana White had previously expressed significant interest in the fight and chided Menery, saying he would bet $10,000 the content creator would back out.
Manziel will join a list of other football players who have recently tried their hand in boxing, including Le’Veon Bell, Frank Gore Sr., Adrian Peterson. Dating back a bit further, former Dallas Cowboys players Greg Hardy and Ed “Too Tall” Jones also stepped onto the canvas at one point. The man often referred to as “Johnny Football” already has a boxing nickname he could use.
Manziel played two seasons in the NFL after the Browns selected him with the No. 22 overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft, throwing for 1,675 yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. Cleveland released him during the 2016 offseason, and he went on to play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.