Jaylen Brown Takes Boxing Match In Nigeria With Zero Prep

Philadelphia 76ers star Jaylen Brown took a boxing match in Nigeria during the NBA offseason with no training camp or preparation, according to MMA Mania.

Brown, who signed a three-year deal worth $184 million with the 76ers this summer, posted footage of the bout on Instagram and confirmed he went in cold. "Did 0 prep for this," he wrote in the comments. The match was tied to one of Brown's charitable projects and appeared to be more of an exhibition than a competitive fight, per the report.

Brown's Boxing Lineage And Financial Risk

The decision to step into the ring carries some risk for a player set to earn $58 million this season alone. Brown does have combat sports in his blood — his father, Quenton Marselles Brown, is a former WBU heavyweight champion. Quenton Brown was charged with attempted murder in 2025 after a stabbing incident over a parking dispute, MMA Mania notes.

Brown is not the first basketball player to cross over into boxing. Former NBA slam dunk champion Nate Robinson suffered a viral knockout loss to Jake Paul in 2020, a fight widely credited with launching Paul's combat sports career. Shaquille O'Neal has been a fixture around UFC events and reportedly invested in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in 2021.

Brown's next NBA game is scheduled for October when the 76ers open their regular season.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — NBA superstar Jaylen Brown takes boxing match in Nigeria with zero prep