Michael Beasley is a better boxer than Delonte West.
On Friday night, Beasley and West squared off in a heavyweight boxing match at Brand Risk 16 in Miami, Fla. The two former NBA players had some history together, playing against each other in the NBA and the Chinese Basketball Association, and carried that association over into Adin Ross’ fight promotion, where Beasley won via first-round TKO.
A former power forward, Beasley, at 6-foot-10, towered over West, the former point guard, who stands 6-foot-3, and he used that reach advantage to stay out of West’s range. Neither man showed much aptitude for boxing, but West attempted to force the issue by charging forward with wild haymakers. While West was able to land one good punch, that was about it, and he seemingly punched himself out, eventually falling to the canvas after eating a few short shots and then stumbling backward. West did not beat the 10-count to stand, causing the referee to call an end to the bout.
After the bout, West seemed to still be addled while speaking with the ring announcer, seemingly making a joke about needing Narcan, an opioid antagonist which West previously had administered to him after being found unconscious by police officers in Virginia in 2024.
This was Beasley’s second foray into Brand Risk, having previously fought Lance Stephenson in an MMA bout at Brand Risk 14 in May.