The bout against sports betting show host Ryan “Elf” Noel doesn’t go as planned
Dan “Jungleman” Cates’ first step into the boxing world ended early and without a clear result after his bout was stopped in the second round due to a disputed punch. The exhibition took place last night in Southern California as part of the Beverly Hills Fight Club’s five-fight card.
Cates faced Ryan “Elf” Noel, a sports betting show host, in a sanctioned match held at The Maybourne Beverly Hills. Neither fighter had prior boxing experience, making the matchup more of a curiosity than a technical showcase. A packed crowd showed up to watch the poker star try his hand in the ring.
The opening round leaned in Noel’s favor, though Cates held his own and stayed active. Things turned quickly early in round two following a brief scramble that sent both fighters to the canvas. After they stood up, confusion appeared to break out over whether the referee had restarted the action.
Moments later, Noel crossed the ring and landed a hard punch to the side of Cates’ head while Jungleman was not fully set in a defensive stance. Several ringside people labeled the shot illegal, while others questioned the officiating and timing of the restart.
Cates was left bloodied from the blow, prompting the referee to halt the fight for safety reasons. Officials ruled the match a no-contest rather than awarding a win or issuing a disqualification. Noel openly disagreed with the ruling, but the decision stood.
Reports later confirmed that Cates suffered a concussion but was otherwise doing well. The crowd included several high-profile spectators, adding to the attention around the incident.
A two-time WSOP champion, Cates has long hinted at testing himself in combat sports. His boxing debut, however, ended in controversy, and those close to the event believe a rematch is unlikely.
