Former Premier League football star Danny Simpson made his influencer boxing debut against social media sensation Danny Aarons at MF & DAZN X Series 17. The highly anticipated matchup took place on Aug. 31 and was a thrilling contest that went the distance.
Simpson, who gained fame for his role in Leicester City's historic Premier League title win in 2016, made a surprising transition to boxing. Despite having no prior professional combat experience, Simpson showed impressive athleticism and determination in the ring.
Aarons, a popular social media figure with millions of followers, also stepped into the boxing ring for the first time.
The fight itself was a close and competitive affair. Both Simpson and Aarons displayed a surprising level of skill and toughness, trading punches and showcasing their athletic abilities. The bout went the full distance, with the decision ultimately going to the judges.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
In the end, the judges scored the fight a draw, with two judges scoring it 39-37 in favor of each fighter and one judge scoring it a 38-38 draw.
Check out some of the fight highlights from MF & DAZN X Series 17 headliner below:
Following the fight, the former footballer said:
"I'm obviously going to say that I thought I nicked it but this week has been one of the craziest weeks of my life. We said we were going to have fun in here and I think we did. I think Danny knows I tried to jump in last minute and tried to do everything I could in the five weeks. Maybe I'll have the chance to have a full camp and I'd love to come back and have another go."
His opponent, Aarons called for a rematch saying:
"A draw.. it is what it is, we'll run it back. Thank you to everyone who came out. It was a pleasure to get in the ring, there's a lot to learn from this, hopefully I can come back with a knockout and with a win."[H/t: Mirror]