Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gober t is in the news after a video of him sparring with fellow Frenchman and former UFC interim heavyweight champion Cyril Gane went viral.
But while many were intrigued to see the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner putting on the gloves, it wasn't a surprise at all because The Stifle Tower admitted before that boxing was his first love.
"I was boxing before I started basketball, and then when I really started to focus on basketball, I got away from boxing for a long time, but for the last three or four years, I've got back on track, and I get better every summer," Gobert said .
Rudy boxed during the summer
During his Utah Jazz days, Gobert returned to his boxing roots under local trainer Matt Peña. Pena, a former boxing trainer for the South Salt Lake Police Athletics League, was tasked by the Jazz's strength and conditioning team to work on Rudy and Gordon Hayward during the offseason.
With their shared love for the sweet science, the French center and Peña became good buddies and later sparring partners. And even when the other Jazz players stopped working with Pena, he and Gobert continued to train every summer.
"He doesn't train me just to do cardio or like the Instagram models do," Gobert added. "It's really like he's teaching me to use my reach and how to defend against guys in different ways they will go at me. The footwork, the skills … so yeah, it's really great to learn some different stuff."
Willing to accept a real fight
During the Jazz's 2018 NBA preseason media day, Gobert said he was down to compete in a boxing bout if the team permitted him. Unfortunately, NBA contracts disallow players to participate in combat sports like boxing, MMA, or wrestling. However, Peña is certain that if Rudy fights, he's going to make him proud. He also issued a warning to Gobert's competition in the NBA.
"I know a lot of people try to act like they want to try and intimidate Rudy, but if it came down to just handling business on the court, I'm going to put money on Rudy," Peña said. "You can put Draymond Green out there and all those big centers out there. I guarantee Rudy is not scared of anybody, and his athleticism for a guy at that size is definitely the best I've seen."
Interestingly, Gobert was involved in a physical altercation with Draymond last season, which ended with Green choking Gobert. With Dray having a standing $10 million offer to fight from Jake Paul , many are wondering if he is willing to settle his differences with Rudy inside the ring.
However, watching Gobert throw hands with ease against Gane must have Draymond thinking twice about fighting him—both on and off the court.
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