Patrick Mahomes Sr., the father of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, recently admitted to staging a fight with former MLB pitcher John Rocker. This revelation came during an official inquiry following an incident that occurred over Super Bowl weekend. The altercation was orchestrated as a publicity stunt for an upcoming celebrity boxing match scheduled for April 2025, which Mahomes Sr. is set to participate in.
In a statement to officials, Mahomes Sr. clarified that the confrontation with Rocker was not genuine, but rather a planned event intended to generate buzz for the bout. He stated, “It was a staged altercation to get publicity for [a] celebrity boxing match.” This admission was reported by TMZ Sports and further covered by the New York Post.
The incident took a turn when Mahomes Sr. traveled to New Orleans, which resulted in him missing a required urine test. This led to his questioning by officials regarding the staged fight. Court documents revealed that Mahomes Sr. had signed a contract to participate in the Barstool Sports event weeks before the fight with Rocker went viral. For his participation, he is set to earn $85,000, with the possibility of additional earnings from pay-per-view sales for the event.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has been vocal about the staged fight, using it as an opportunity to address Patrick Mahomes Jr.’s previous criticisms of the sports media company. In a recent video, Portnoy invited Mahomes Jr. and his team to attend the fight, suggesting that there could be a reconciliation between the family and Barstool Sports.
This incident is not the first time the Rough N’ Rowdy boxing promotion has faced scrutiny. In 2021, former baseball player Jose Canseco was involved in a similar controversy when he allegedly “took a dive” during a fight for the promotion.
As the April boxing match approaches, all eyes will be on Mahomes Sr. and his showdown with Rocker, with fans and critics alike eager to see how this staged altercation unfolds in the ring.