Johnny Manziel will face social media influencer Bob Menery in a boxing match May 23 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, the report says. The bout will take place at the UFC venue rather than the Miami location that had been expected, per the report.
The fight will be promoted by Kick streamer Adin Ross’ Brand Risk Promotions, which the report says is known for staging boxing matches that pit celebrities against content creators. The promoter’s involvement follows recent links tying Manziel to a celebrity bout with Menery.
The Apex location is not incidental, the report says, as UFC CEO Dana White has expressed significant interest in the matchup. The report notes that White and Menery have had a tumultuous relationship, and that White previously said he would bet $10,000 that Menery would back out of the fight; White will now host the event at the UFC Apex, according to the report.
Manziel, 33, was a standout at Texas A&M and was selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, the report says. He lasted two years in the NFL, throwing for 1,675 yards and seven touchdowns before Cleveland cut him during the 2016 offseason. The report adds that Manziel went on to play in other leagues, including the Canadian Football League, and was the subject of Netflix’s UNTOLD anthology series entry titled “Johnny Football,” which premiered in 2023.
Per the report, the May 23 card at the UFC Apex will pair Manziel and Menery under the Brand Risk Promotions banner with UFC involvement behind the scenes. Further details about the card or the fighters’ preparations were not provided in the report.
