Poker Writer
Former NFL star running back Adrian Peterson will step into the boxing ring to fight a man he brawled with at a Houston poker club in late May.
Peterson and poker player Joe Castaneda have tentatively agreed to a formal boxing match to settle things after their initial dust-up, according to TMZ.
That confrontation came on May 27 when Peterson threw fists with Castaneda at JokerStars Social Club in Houston. Phone cameras showed Peterson and Castenada getting up from the poker table and trading punches. The fight appeared to end in a draw without any significant blows landed by either side. The video went viral in part because of Peterson’s fame.
Peterson talked to TMZ after the incident, saying he’d smoothed things over with Castaneda:
Me and the guy, we’re cool. We’ve known each other. It was literally like a brother situation. We agreed to disagree, we had our words, and we threw blows-and that was it.
Despite the amicable resolution, the two men seem to be enjoying the attention their fight brought. Damon Feldman, founder of Celebrity Boxing is the one who is setting up the bout. There’s no date or venue set yet, but Peterson reportedly signed the contract last week and both men have begun training.
Poker Pro vs. NFL Running Back
After an illustrious career as an Oklahoma Sooner in college, Peterson played in the NFL for 14 seasons, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings where he was one of the best running backs in NFL history for many seasons.
Castaneda, meanwhile, will be looking to gain some visibility through this opportunity. The Pasadena, TX native has just under $40,000 in career poker earnings according to Card Player, and one WSOP Circuit ring dating back to 2015. He seems to be pumped up about the fight, saying:
Time to get in shape and sharpen up these hands to put on a show. South Houston, let’s get it.
Peterson’s fight was not the only viral fight captured on camera in a poker room in May. Another big one went down at Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas earlier in the month.
Image Credit: Joe Glorioso/All-Pro Reels via Wikipedia (license)
