Michael Beasley is a better boxer than Delonte West.
On Friday night, Beasley and West faced off in a heavyweight boxing match at Brand Risk 16 in Miami, Florida. The two former NBA players had some history together, playing against each other in the NBA and Chinese Basketball Association, and carried that association over to Adin Ross’ fighting promotion, where Beasley won via first-round TKO.
A former power forward, the 6-foot-10 Beasley towered over former point guard West, who is 6-foot-3, and he used that reach advantage to stay out of West’s reach. Neither man showed much boxing aptitude, but West tried to force the issue by charging in with wild haymakers. While West was able to land a good punch, that was about it, and he apparently hit himself, eventually falling to the canvas after eating a few short punches, then stumbling backwards. West didn’t beat the 10 count to get up, causing the referee to end the fight.
After the fight, West still appeared confused while speaking with the ring announcer, apparently making a joke about needing Narcan, an opioid antagonist that West had previously administered to him after he was found unconscious by police officers in Virginia in 2024.
This was Beasley’s second foray into Brand Risk, having fought Lance Stephenson in an MMA fight at Brand Risk 14 in May.
Gn sports
