- Here’s the full story on Akon’s desire to step into the celebrity boxing ring — in roughly
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## 🎤 Akon Says: “Please Invite Me In The Ring!”
On July 22, 2025, TMZ broke the news that Akon, the 52-year-old R\&B superstar known for hits like “Smack That,” “Lonely,” and “Locked Up,” has seemingly had enough of singing about lockdown—now he wants to *lock horns* in a boxing ring. During an interview on **“THE UNTOLD”**, Akon boldly declared that he’s eager to face off in a celebrity boxing match—if the right offer comes his way ([TMZ][1]).
“In my sleep,” he said. “Please invite me in the ring!” He wasn’t just tossing out a generic challenge either. He made it clear that he’s game to fight anyone—\*\*rapper, R\&B singer, comedian, athlete—\*\*as long as they *dislike him*, giving him that competitive edge. “Everyone got a hater. He’s probably just looking for the right opportunity,” Akon added ([TMZ][1]).
This isn’t typical celebrity banter. He sounded serious—hungry for the spotlight, both musically and athletically.
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## The Growing Trend of Celebrity Boxing
Akon’s announcement follows a tidal wave of celebrity boxing events that have dominated late-night headlines and pay-per-view rosters.
* **Official Celebrity Boxing**, run by Damon Feldman, has tapped luminaries like Roy Jones Jr., Ric Flair, Lamar Odom, Caitlyn Jenner—and even **Akon himself**, listed as an “honorary champ” ([Celebrity Boxing][2]).
* In 2024, Feldman even proposed a \$1 million payday for **Meek Mill vs. Akademiks**—with a venue locked for May 18 in Atlanta ([Complex][3]).
* High-profile matchups have drawn attention, such as **Benzino challenging Eminem**, calling it “the biggest pay-per-view celebrity boxing match in the history of this world” ([iHeart][4]).
The fact that Damon Feldman and others are actively courting major music stars—and offering seven-figure purses—signals this is far from some underground amateur trend. It’s big business, with serious ambitions to shape up into a mainstream pop-culture sport.
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## What Makes These Events Explosive?
1. **Earned Fame = Big Money**
* Celebrities bring built-in audiences, making it easy to sell tickets and pay-per-view packages. The spectacle is its own drawing card.
2. **Spectacle Over Sport**
* Fans want drama—celebrity cage fights double as entertainment. These matches mix the thrill of actual boxing with the wild theatrics of platform-driven personalities ([EssentiallySports][5]).
3. **Mixed Reactions from Purists**
* Traditionalists in boxing bristle at celebrity matches, calling them “embarrassing” or “a cavalcade of fame grabs.” Still, others point out they’ve always existed—from **Muhammad Ali’s exhibitions** to celebrity wrestling in years past ([Reddit][6]).
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## Celebrities vs. Athletes: A Forced Collision
There’s a growing list of celebrities who’ve stepped up—or been challenged:
* **Meek Mill vs. Akademiks** reportedly has a \$1 million purse hanging in the air ([Complex][3]).
* **Benzino vs. Eminem** was pitched as a blockbuster undercard for a Jake Paul–Mike Tyson show—rivalries spice up the spectacle ([iHeart][4]).
* MMA stars like **Colby Covington** have even expressed interest in facing off against rappers in celebrity boxing bouts ([Sportskeeda][7]).
Akon officially adding his name to the pool is a notable escalation—the singer’s involvement flips the narrative from Hollywood stunts to “legit” celebrity athlete.
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## Will Akon Actually Fight?
A few key questions stand between Akon’s proclamation and the sound of gloves hitting canvas:
1. **Training Rigour**
* Traditional boxers train years. Celebrity fighters usually devote a few months with pro coaches. Say, Meek Mill had proper trainers lined up for his proposed showdown ([Reddit][8]).
2. **Promotion & Matchup**
* To promote big, you need a beef. Akon’s stance—wanting someone who *hates* him—sets the stage. If a rival who resents him steps up, there could be fireworks.
3. **Financial Incentives**
* Dafon Feldman’s proven model: six-figure purses and event ringside captains. If Akon sees a deal that covers pay and promotion, it’s only rational he’d nod yes.
4. **Regulation & Sanctioning**
* These events increasingly run under *full-sanctioned* rules. Feldman’s official events welcome professionals and amateurs—so if Akon signs on, expect regulation, rules, and real referees ([Celebrity Boxing][2]).
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## Boxing Fans: Mixed Reactions
Reddit commentary reveals a polarized opinion:
* One user defending the trend pointed out,
> **“boxing is a business at the end of the day… KO’s attract people to the sport”** ([Reddit][9], [Reddit][6]).
* Another critic lamented:
> **“It’s embarrassing that promoters are putting so much effort into these matches for a quick buck… when there are so many fighters who’ve trained their entire lives”** ([Reddit][10], [Reddit][8]).
The divide’s clear: Some see celebrity boxing as a flamboyant money machine that revitalizes interest in the sport; others see it as exploitation of fame and money at the expense of real skill.
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## Akon’s Edge – What He Brings
* **Global Reach**: A multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated artist. His songs transcend genres, appealing to multiple demographics.
* **Natural Showmanship**: Akon has performed stadiums worldwide—he knows how to command an audience.
* **Celebrity Dogs: Haters + Drama**: By saying he wants someone who dislikes him, Akon feeds media narratives and fans’ thirst for conflict.
* **Financial Worth**: With his net worth estimated in the hundreds of millions, he’s not boxing for cash—he’s boxing for bragging rights and brand expansion.
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## Potential Opponents: Who Could Fill Those Gloves?
1. **Other Musicians**: Imagine Akon vs. someone who’s publicly feuding with him—like another R\&B legend or rapper with a public gripe.
2. **Athletes**: A celebrity athlete—maybe NBA, NFL, or MMA crossover—could present both storyline and athletic challenge.
3. **Comedians/Actors**: Think Will Ferrell or Kevin Hart—someone funny ready to toe the line with a star.
4. **Reality Stars/Controversial Celebs**: Stormy Daniels, Blac Chyna, Caitlyn Jenner—official celebrity boxing alumni all and potential mess magnets.
If a rival with real dislike steps up—and promotion leverages the conflict—this could go viral fast.
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## The Big Picture: Is Celebrity Boxing Here to Stay?
* **Pros**: Large audiences, fresh attention for boxing, spectacle-driven entertainment.
* **Cons**: Critics want to preserve sport integrity, not enable spectacle over skill.
* **Reality**: Whether purist boxing or entertainment extravaganza—celebrity boxing is trending. With figures like **Akon stepping in**, it may carve out its own corner of sports-entertainment.
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## Summary: Will Akon Ever Throw Down?
* **He Wants to**. He said so—publicly, on record, with sincerity ([Reddit][8], [TMZ][1], [Reddit][9], [Celebrity Boxing][2]).
* **Organizers Want Him**. Feldman’s league already lists him as a promotional champ ([Celebrity Boxing][2]).
* **Matches Are Waiting**. The template is ready: celebrity vs. celebrity, backed by experienced commissions and promotion teams.
* **It’s Up to Others**. The biggest missing piece? Someone with beef enough to sign on and sell this fight.
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### Final Take
Akon’s entry into celebrity boxing signals the genre’s continued fusion of pop culture, sport, and spectacle. Whether he actually fights will depend on business offers, rivalries, and his commitment to training. But with his name on the roster and demand surging, “Smack That” just took on a whole new meaning—12 rounds in an actual ring.
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Let me know if you want to dig deeper—training comparisons, potential opponents listed by name, or historical precedent. For now, I’ll leave it in the ring: Akon wants to fight, the world’s watching.
* [TMZ](https://www.tmz.com/2025/07/22/akon-wants-celebrity-boxing-match/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
[1]: https://www.tmz.com/2025/07/22/akon-wants-celebrity-boxing-match/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Akon Wants Celebrity Boxing Match, ‘Please Invite Me In The Ring!'”
[2]: https://www.officialcelebrityboxing.com/home?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Official Celebrity Boxing”
[3]: https://www.complex.com/music/a/markelibert/meek-mill-akademiks-1-million-boxing-match?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Meek Mill and Akademiks Offered $1 Million to Settle Feud by Celebrity Boxing CEO”
[4]: https://www.iheart.com/alternate/amp/2024-04-02-benzino-says-hell-knock-eminem-out-in-proposed-celebrity-boxing-match/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Benzino Says He’ll ‘Knock Eminem Out’ In Proposed Celebrity Boxing Match | iHeartRadio”
[5]: https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-mma-news-ufc-star-conor-mcgregor-continues-his-mockery-of-akon-despite-legal-actions-taken-by-us-singer/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “UFC Star Conor McGregor Continues His Mockery Of Akon Despite Legal Actions Taken By US Singer – EssentiallySports”
[6]: https://www.reddit.com/r/Boxing/comments/mt74wm?utm_source=chatgpt.com “These “celebrity fights” are ruining the integrity of this sport”
[7]: https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/colby-covington-willing-to-fight-rapper-50-cent-in-a-celebrity-boxing-match?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Colby Covington willing to fight rapper 50 Cent in a celebrity boxing match”
[8]: https://www.reddit.com/r/Boxing/comments/nmv1u8?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Why do people see celebrity boxing as being embarassing for boxing?”
[9]: https://www.reddit.com/r/theJoeBuddenPodcast/comments/k6c6gf?utm_source=chatgpt.com “is Akon versuz worthy?”
[10]: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/c
omments/byxk6r?utm_source=chatgpt.com “After Justin Bieber challenged Tom cruise to a throwdown, what other odd celebrity fight do you want to see?”
