Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has signed up to fight for the PFL – and it’s happening next month.
The former left back won a Champions League medal, a Club World Cup, five Premier League titles, two Serie A titles and was once named in the UEFA Team of the Year during a glittering career. Since 2016, he has been training for a fight, and is now switching from boxing to MMA.
Evra has teamed up with one of PFL’s biggest superstars Cedric Doumbe to train for his debut in the cage, which takes place on Friday May 23 in Paris. He is a former captain of the French National Team, including at a World Cup, and is expected to draw a big crowd for his debut.
Patrice Evra will make PFL debut in less than a month
Bloody Elbow has received confirmation from PFL today that soccer star Patrice Evra is going to make his debut in the SmartCage on May 23 at the promotion’s event at the Accor Arena in Paris. It will mark their second European tournament event after Paul Hughes returns on May 10 in Belfast.
His opponent and weight class still are to be confirmed, but the bout is guaranteed to take place on the PFL Europe card in Paris.
“You guys should know by now, I love this game too,” Evra said in a statement this afternoon. “I’ve performed on the world’s biggest stages, won every major trophy in football, but PFL Europe Paris will be an incredibly special night for me.
“I’ve been training alongside the best in the world for years, and they’ll also tell you I’m ready for this. I’m going to put on a show at the Accor Arena on 23 May, so come watch the spectacle.”
PFL CEO Peter Murray added that: “I’m told he loves this game as much as us, and we’ll find out on 23 May! We’re incredibly excited to have the superstar that is Patrice Evra fight under the PFL banner, as we’re all about exciting match-ups and making history.
“I can’t tell you how excited Patrice has been putting this together, but I think you’re going to see it at the Accor Arena. Paris, we’re coming to put on another historic evening of MMA, don’t miss out.”
Patrice Evra was previously due for celebrity boxing match
Back in 2022, Evra was due to make his debut in the boxing ring on the undercard of Martyn Ford’s fight with the Iranian Hulk. The London event ended up being cancelled, so his fight with YouTuber Adam Saleh fell by the wayside.
Since then, Jake Paul and KSI have risen even further in popularity with the advent of YouTube boxing and the latter’s Misfits Boxing promotion. Evra is no stranger to KSI having recently appeared on his group the Sidemen’s reality show Inside.
Evra has been training in boxing since 2016, while still playing at the top level with Juventus. He retired from football after a stint at West Ham in 2018 and is still relatively young at 43.