Former NFL All-Pro Shawne Merriman out of bare-knuckle boxing debut at WBKFF 1
Shawne Merriman’s combat sports debut will have to wait.
Merriman, a former three-time NFL Pro Bowler linebacker, has withdrawn from his expected bare-knuckle boxing contest against Mike Bourke, which was scheduled to go down Nov. 9 in Casper, Wyoming at the inaugural World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation (WBKFF) show. Sources confirmed the news to MMA Fighting on Tuesday.
Per sources, a last-second contractual dispute was the reason for Merriman’s exit. The former NFL All-Pro hinted at that dispute on Twitter.
Some things are non negotiable...like your time and health.
— Shawne Merriman (@shawnemerriman) November 6, 2018
The truth about the fight is contracts weren’t honored period, anything else is completely false. I believe people who followed me long enough know I wouldn’t just “back out”.
— Shawne Merriman (@shawnemerriman) November 6, 2018
Just days out from WBKFF’s debut show, vice president and matchmaker Paul Tyler has also left the company, sources told MMA Fighting.
WBKFF 1: Clash of the Titans is scheduled to take place at the Casper Events Center.
At the moment, an inaugural welterweight title fight between former UFC champion Johny Hendricks and longtime Bellator contender Brennan Ward is scheduled to headline the card, which airs Nov. 9 on pay-per-view.