Former NBA player Deron Williams tops former NFL player Frank Gore in exhibition boxing match

from www.espn.com/ESPN.com

TAMPA, Fla. — The boxing match between former NBA All-Star guard Deron Williams and star NFL running back Frank Gore was switched Friday to an exhibition inexplicably by the Florida State Boxing Commission.

Make no mistake, though. It was a legitimate — and entertaining — fight.

Williams defeated Gore via split decision (38-37, 37-38, 40-35) on Saturday night on the Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley undercard here at Amalie Arena. On Thursday at the prefight press conference, Williams said NBA players have the stigma of being soft. He disproved that alleged stigma against Gore with a gritty performance.

“I always was a physical point guard,” Williams said after the fight. “I never shied away from contact, and I showed that today. People think basketball players are soft, but I never was one. That’s what I was looking to accomplish here today.”