Dave Portnoy reveals whether Pat Mahomes Sr. vs. John Rocker fight could be revived
For better or worse, the celebrity boxing match between John Rocker and Patrick Mahomes Sr. appears to be dead.
A bout between the dad of the Chiefs' superstar quarterback and the former Braves closer that was initially set for April has been officially cancelled, Barstool's Dave Portnoy told TMZ Sports.
'That fight ain't gonna happen,' Portnoy said. 'The Mahomeses shut that down. I think Patrick, the quarterback, was like, 'Why the hell is my dad fighting John Rocker in Rough N' Rowdy?' So, he got in the middle of it. They got in the middle of it and didn't allow it to happen.'
3 Patrick Mahomes looks on after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs defeated the Titans 35-24.
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Portnoy previously said on 'The Unamed Show' that the fight fell apart after Patrick Mahomes II's wife, Brittany, and his agent intervened.
'Mahomes' agent, the football player, and Brittany — from what I am told — intervened and were like, 'There's no way this fight's happening. We're going to cut this guy off if he does it,' Portnoy said.
'They came to us … they hated each other and wanted to fight,' Portnoy added, indicating that the idea originated with Rocker and Mahomes Sr. themselves.
The bout was arranged under Barstool's 'Rough 'N Rowdy' banner, and TMZ reports that Mahomes Sr. signed a contract in mid-January to appear on the April card.
Court records obtained by TMZ indicate he would have made at least $85,000 from the bout.
The fight gained early buzz during Super Bowl week when Rocker and Mahomes Sr. staged an altercation in New Orleans, an act Mahomes later admitted was staged was for publicity.
Warning: Graphic language
3 Former MLB player John Rocker arrives at the after party for a screening of CBS Films' 'Last Vegas' at Haze Nightclub at the Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter on October 18, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
FilmMagic
The two also had a spat in April where Rocker tweeted of Mahomes on the day the fight was initially supposed to take place.
'Instead of fighting today he backed out like a little bitch because his son and his loser wife decided it'd be a bad look to the family name for him to get in the ring,' he wrote, then added, 'Bunch of f–king woke liberals.'
While Rocker continues to vent, Portnoy confirmed in a follow-up that 'there's no chance' the fight will be rescheduled.
3 Barstool founder and CEO Dave Portnoy is seen before the Florida Atlantic Owls and Loyola (Il) Ramblers game in the Barstool Invitational at Wintrust Arena on November 8, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.
Getty Images
Both Rocker and Mahomes last pitched in the majors in 2003.
The attention Rocker draws outweighs his professional success. He pitched five full seasons, most notably for the Atlanta Braves from 1998-01, where he was their closer, though his play has since been overtaken by his controversial comments on various subjects over the years, along with admitting to steriod use.
Mahomes pitched in the majors from 1992-03, most notably out of the Mets bullpen in 1999 and 2000, also enjoying stints with the Twins, Red Sox and Rangers.
He's had three DWI charges, including one he pled guilty to just last year.
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