Johnny Manziel will make his boxing debut against social media star Bob Menery on May 23 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event will be live-streamed across multiple platforms, hosted by UFC CEO Dana White.
Key points
Johnny Manziel is making his boxing debut.
The fight is against Bob Menery.
The event is on May 23 at UFC Apex.
Dana White is hosting the event.
It will be live-streamed across multiple platforms.
The 33-year-old former NFL quarterback is set to step into the boxing ring on May 23 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The bout will feature Manziel against social media influencer Bob Menery, according to a May 6 announcement from Brand Risk Promotions. The event is being hosted by UFC CEO Dana White and will live streamed across YouTube, Kick, Twitch, X and TikTok.
It will serve as Manziel's boxing debut. Though he was no stranger to taking hits with pads on during football games, there will be no offensive line to protect him in this setting.
Best known for his rise to fame at Texas A&M, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner eventually made his way into the pros with the Cleveland Browns as the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Manziel appeared in just 14 games across two seasons in Cleveland and posted a 2-6 record in eight starts.
The quarterback faded from the spotlight after being released by the Browns in 2016, despite making stops in other leagues. Manziel made appearances in the Canadian Football League (CFL), Alliance of American Football (AAF) and Fan Controlled Football (FCF), but hasn't played in a game since 2022.
Manziel revealed during an episode of Logan Paul's "Impaulsive" podcast on July 15, 2025, that he considered making an NFL comeback in 2024.
"I asked myself this question last year," Manziel said, when asked if it was too late to make a comeback. "Got myself into a mindset of like, 'OK, I'm going to go start working out again, throwing the football around, see if I can still get myself in shape.'"
However, Manziel said he had no interest in playing in leagues like the UFL again, which essentially ended the comeback before it started.
Now he's ready to try his luck at boxing, like plenty of NFL players that came before him.
NFL players to compete in boxing
Manziel's journey into the boxing ring isn't unique for former NFL players.
Menery is a comedian and social media personality. The 38-year-old rose to fame for his sports broadcasting voice and the parody play-by-play clips he made because of that.
What is Brand Risk Promotions?
Brand Risk Promotions is a company that was founded by streamer and internet personality Adin Ross in 2024.
It was started with a "vision to revolutionize combat sports by bringing the energy and audience of streaming culture into the ring," according to the company's site.
Brand Risk Promotions typically features personalities, creators and celebrities in fights instead of traditional boxers
