'Jungleman' Boxing Match Result Overturned: Poker Pro Loses Via TKO
The controversial ending to a boxing match involving poker pro Dan "Jungleman" Cates has been overturned.
Ryan "Elf" Noel, the favorite entering the Beverly Hills Fight Club match on Jan 22., landed what some deemed to be a cheap shot on a defenseless and inexperienced Cates. But the no contest ruling, meaning neither fighter won or lost, following a legal punch, has since been reversed.
Poker Pro Takes the "L"
Cates, a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner, came into the fight with no experience in the boxing ring, and the same can be said for his opponent who dominated the match from start until it was called off in the second round. Elf's final punch, although some called it a cheap shot, was legal despite the controversy and debate it caused.
The ref gave the hand signal to indicate "fight" following a scuffle that sent both fighters to the canvas. It is a boxer's responsbility to pay attention to the referee and protect themselves at all times in the ring.
Elf, after getting the fight signal from the ref, ran across the ring and slugged Jungleman, who wasn't ready to fight and wasn't in a protective stance, leading many boxing fans to argue the initial no contest ruling was incorrect.
As such, the decision has been overturned to Noel winning via technical knockout (TKO), and Cates gets credited with the loss. Elf shared the ruling Saturday on X.
The International Kickboxing Federation (IKF), however, has suspended both fighters. Cates is ineligible to step in the ring again until March 1, 2026, and Noel cannot fight again until May 22, 2026. That suspension likely won't have much of an impact, as it was unlikely either boxer would return to action prior to the end of those suspensions. But Jungleman and Elf have discussed a potential rematch, although Cates said he'd need more favorable odds.
Noel and Cates had a side bet on the fight, which Cates agreed he would pay off even before the IKF overturned the no contest ruling. Many other gamblers had action on the match, but as Elf wrote on X, the sportsbooks decided to stick with voiding all payouts.
PokerNews' Adam Peikin was on-site at the Maybourne Beverly Hills to capture video of the boxing match.
