Le’Veon Bell Knocks Out Adrian Peterson in Boxing Debut

Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell won his boxing debut by knocking out fellow former NFL back Adrian Peterson in the fifth round of their fight on the Social Gloves 2 card at Banc of California Center in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Bell threw a straight right hand to the jaw of Peterson that knocked him down 23 seconds into the fifth and final round scheduled. Peterson got back to his feet but the fight was stopped and Bell declared the winner.

Hesitate, then hit the hole. Vintage Lev Bell. pic.twitter.com/svlwi84yzM

— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) September 11, 2022

The first four rounds largely consisted of the fighters feeling one another out, with few punches landed, particularly in the first two rounds. Bell grew more confident as the fight went on and began to connect with some body blows in the fourth round. Neither boxer held a traditional guard throughout the fight.

Bell won despite giving up 14 pounds to Peterson. The former Steelers back weighed in at 204 pounds, while Peterson checked in at 218 pounds. Both backs are 6-foot-1.

Bell, 30, played last season with the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but recorded a career-low 39 carries for 101 yards on the season. The former Steelers second-round draft pick was a three-time All-Pro in his four seasons in Pittsburgh, but left the team after sitting out the 2018 season in a contract dispute and never re-gained the level of success he had with the Steelers. 

He said in July that he is stepping away from football.

“I’m excited for this next chapter of my life, my journey to be the BEST at what I do,” he said in an Instagram post. “The NFL has done great things for me, & I truly appreciated every single year of my NFL journey.”

Neither Bell nor Peterson has officially retired from the NFL, though neither has spent any time with an NFL team this offseason.