Celebrity boxing matches keep getting weirder and weirder.
After former NFL running back Le’Veon Bell knocked out Adrian Peterson, another ex-NFL ball carrier, in an exhibition bout, the 30-year-old onetime Steelers star will now return to the ring to face former UFC fighter Uriah Hall.
The Bell vs Hall bout will happen October 29 on the main card of a pay-per-view event headlined by Jake Paul and Anderson Silva.
In the Bell vs Hall odds, the nine-year UFC veteran is a hefty favorite. Sportsbook has “Prime Time” as the -600 chalk.
You can see boxing odds and other betting markets at Sportsbook. We also have a full breakdown of the Jake Paul vs Anderson Silva odds here.
Le’Veon Bell vs Uriah Hall Odds
Sportsbook has released its Le’Veon Bell vs Uriah Hall odds, with Hall the decisive -600 favorite and Bell the +375 underdog. Using our odds calculator, that means if you were to bet $10 on the favorite, you would win $11.67 (your original $10 bet and a profit of $1.67). Of course, betting on the ex-NFL star is far more lucrative, with a $10 bet returning a profit of $37.50.
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Uriah Hall | -600 |
| Le’Veon Bell | +375 |
Odds as of October 25 at Sportsbook
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Bell vs Hall Odds Analysis
This is a weird one. Bell has one exhibition match under his belt and Hall has never boxed at any level.
Bell was a -200 favorite in his bout vs Peterson on September 10. That five-round main event looked destined to go the distance until Bell uncorked a heavy right overhand that sat Peterson down for good in the fifth.
Hall, on the other hand, wrapped up his mediocre UFC career with two consecutive decision losses. He was listed as the underdog vs Sean Strickland (+175) and Andre Muniz (+275).
How Will Weight Factor In?
Uriah is favored in the Bell vs Hall odds, though the weight advantage likely won’t be in his favor. This upcoming bout is scheduled for four three-minute rounds, and neither fighter is allowed to weigh more than 200 pounds.
Hall competed as a middleweight (185 pounds) throughout his UFC career, meaning he likely walks around at a heavier weight but cut down before stepping into the Octagon. Bell, however, fought at 205 pounds in his boxing debut and clearly relied on his power to put his opponent away.
I expect this weight cut to tip the physical advantage slightly in Hall’s favor. The 38-year-old has a 3.5-inch reach advantage and his conditioning should, in theory, be better than Bell’s. The length of the fight (just four rounds) might see Le’Veon let his hands go a little more, though.
What Hall Does Well
Hall’s fighting profile seems built for boxing. His counterpunching strength has always been solid, even as he’s lost a step in his late 30s. Prime Time is still explosive, possessing a knack for quick rights off his back foot that seemingly come out of nowhere, leading to his 77 percent MMA finish rate. Some of his more glorious UFC knockouts came via spinning kicks, which obviously won’t be allowed vs Bell on Saturday.
Output, accuracy and defense are where Hall falls short. When the Jamaican’s UFC career was finished, some of his numbers weren’t terribly pretty. His significant strikes absorbed (3.85 per minute) outweighed his strikes landed (3.23) and his striking accuracy (48%) isn’t terribly pristine either.
If Bell stays active, there might be a route to victory on points.
What Bell Does Well
Less is known about Bell’s fighting profile. Judging by his fight vs Peterson, he likes to crouch really low and use head movement to advance. He fights behind his jab and loves to pepper the body. None of his movements look technically sound, and it looks like he relied on his speed to evade Peterson’s intermittent strikes.
If there are any positive takeaways from Bell’s performance, it’s that he’s smart enough to use the body to set up shots to the head (which resulted in his TKO win) and that his gas tank is solid. Other than that, though, I see a lot of opportunity for Hall, a notable counterpuncher, to dissect Bell’s sloppy technique.
Le’Veon Bell vs Uriah Hall Pick
The Bell vs Hall odds aren’t sexy if you’re picking the favorite, but I don’t see any way Bell pulls this off. And believe me, I looked hard. The ex-NFL star leans in heavily when he punches, stands on his toes and rarely keeps his hands high enough to protect himself. He also rarely offered anything at Peterson in terms of combinations.
We don’t know what Bell’s chin is like since Peterson never really connected, but I’m willing to bet Hall clocks him with a few good ones. The holes in Bell’s game mesh too perfectly with Hall’s strengths. I’m taking Hall (-600) to settle this fight by decision.
