13 Years After Sparring With a Boxing HoF, Shaquille O’Neal Disclosed the “Most Devastating Knockout” in Front of 32 Million People

Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal wears many different hats. The 4x NBA champion is a DJ, entrepreneur, and sports enthusiast, just to name a few. Attending various significant sporting events proves his obsession and impact of sports in his life. The one sport that Shaq is obsessed with other than basketball is boxing. From sparring with a HoF boxer to frequently voicing his opinions on the sport, O’Neal has done it all. The 51-year-old shared the “most devastating knockout” in boxing with his 32 million Instagram followers.

But who is O’Neal agreeing with here?

Silent affirmation: Shaq’s Instagram story

Shaquille O’Neal has a multifaceted personality. The $400 million worth analyst has a keen interest in many sports other than basketball. Recently, the Los Angeles Lakers legend shared a throwback clip of one of boxing’s biggest legends on his Instagram stories. The reel was of Hall of Famer Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns.

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The reel was of ‘The Hitman’ knocking out the former World Champion Roberto Duran in the second round of a championship match. Hearns, while sharing the reel, claimed the punch that helped him retain the WBC and The Ring Junior middleweight championship was the knockout of the year 1984.

Shaq, a die-hard fan of boxing, silently affirmed the claim by sharing it on his Instagram story with his 32 million followers. While the big man has often shown his affection for boxing, he has stepped inside the ring as well.

Shaquille O’Neal’s boxing Showdown with Hall of Famers

Shaq has gained a massive fan base by doing things that he loves and by making it more entertaining. Shaq, in the show ‘Shaq Vs.’ displayed the various sides of his personality. From swimming with Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps to sparring with the ‘Golden Boy,’ Oscar De La Hoya. 

In an episode of the American series, with the 7’1 rame, Shaq took on the Hall of Famer boxer in a five-round sparring match. Shaq gave a tough fight to the former World Champion, but it was in vain as the Golden Boy came out victorious via unanimous decision. 

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The defeat did not hold Shaq down, though, as in the next season of the series, he took on another boxing legend, ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley. However, Mosely won the match after five rounds via a unanimous decision, much like his previous fight with De La Hoya. Considering he is 51-year-old now, do you think O’Neal will step foot in a boxing ring again? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.