The boxing showdown between two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Dan “Jungleman” Cates and sports betting host Ryan “Elf” Noel ended in a no-contest Thursday at California’s Maybourne Beverly Hills.
The fight was halted in the second round after a chaotic exchange. During the bout, the referee briefly separated the fighters and then signaled the match to resume. Cates, seemingly unaware the fight had restarted, was struck by a powerful haymaker that cut his face and knocked him to the canvas, prompting the referee to stop the match.
Cates Credits His Opponent
Both fighters are newcomers to boxing. Cates admitted he was outmatched for much of the bout but remained undeterred in his pursuit of pugilism.
“Just got my ass kicked because I wasn’t paying attention,” Cates wrote on X. “But this is the road to becoming a champion … taking risks, getting knocked down, and pushing forward anyway.”
The match, sanctioned by the International Kickboxing Federation, was announced earlier this month on social media. Despite the rough introduction to the ring, Cates praised Noel’s skills and expressed openness to future fights.
“@yElff_ was tougher than I expected and I misread a moment that led to the apparent loss,” Cates added. “Good news is I feel almost normal after getting slammed. I’d fight again, as long as it doesn’t cause permanent damage. On the bright side, if I recover quickly, maybe there’s another superpower hiding in me.”
Poker Players Turn Fighters
Cates joins a growing list of poker pros who have stepped into the ring.
In April, Frank Cucchiara, known as “Frankie C,” was outmatched by former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley. In 2019, Antonio Esfandiari defeated actor and comedian Kevin Hart in a boxing bout. Olivier Busquet also secured a win over fellow poker pro JC Alvarado in an MMA fight in 2016.
This latest crossover highlights the trend of poker players testing their competitive edge beyond the felt and into combat sports.
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