Total Pro Sports
Former NFL star running back Adrian Peterson is returning to the world of sports, but he’ll be using his fists this time.
According to a report from TMZ Sports, Adrian Peterson has signed a Celebrity Boxing contract to fight Joe “Baby Joe” Castaneda. The latter, a professional poker player, has also signed the contract.
For those unaware, a video surfaced last month of Peterson and Castaneda getting into a full-on fistfight after a disagreement in a poker game. The incident happened at a club called JokerStars in Houston, Texas, on May 27.
A date, location and venue hasn’t been announced for the event yet, but Celebrity Boxing CEO Damon Feldman confirmed that the fight is officially on in a video message, per TMZ Sports.
Former #NFL superstar #AdrianPeterson got into a fistfight with a poker player following a dispute over a hand … and #TMZSports has obtained video of the tussle. pic.twitter.com/WdhcZFHwBt
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) June 19, 2025
Adrian Peterson fought fellow former Pro Bowl NFL running back Le’Veon Bell in an exhibition boxing match in Los Angeles on Sept. 10, 2022. Bell defeated the 2012 league MVP via technical knockout.
The seventh overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft displayed remarkable longevity as a running back, lasting 15 seasons in the pros. Peterson, a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, split his final season with the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans in 2021.
Peterson retired with 14,918 career rushing yards, the fifth-most in NFL history behind only Emmitt Smith (18,355), Walter Payton (16,726), Frank Gore (16,000) and Barry Sanders (15,269).
Adrian Peterson is also fourth in career rushing touchdowns with 120. Only Smith (164), LaDainian Tomlinson (145) and Marcus Allen (123) finished with more.
Peterson exceeded 1,000 yards rushing in eight of his 15 NFL Seasons. He won three rushing titles in his illustrious career (2008, 2012 and 2015), including a career-high 2,097 in his MVP-winning season.
