Brittany Mahomes Cited as Reason for Canceled Rocker-Mahomes Boxing Match

NEW ORLEANS, La. — A boxing match between former Major League Baseball pitchers Pat Mahomes Sr. and John Rocker, scheduled for April 18, has been canceled, with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy attributing the decision to Brittany Mahomes.

During an appearance on “The Unnamed Show” podcast on February 21, Portnoy stated that intervention from Brittany — the wife of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II — led to the fight being called off. “Mahomes’ agent, [the football player], and Brittany – from what I am told – intervened and were like, ‘There’s no way this fight’s happening,’” Portnoy said.

The planned bout followed a public altercation between Mahomes Sr. and Rocker in New Orleans during Super Bowl festivities, where they were seen exchanging heated words. While the incident drew considerable attention, documentation indicated it had been staged for publicity purposes surrounding the upcoming fight.

Reports suggest that Mahomes Sr. was set to earn at least $85,000 from the fight, with potential bonuses based on pay-per-view sales. However, the fallout from the verbal exchange raises questions about the legality and viability of the match, particularly as Mahomes Sr. is currently on probation.

TMZ reported that Mahomes indicated to authorities the argument with Rocker was pre-planned to generate interest for the boxing event. “It was a staged altercation to get publicity for a celebrity boxing match that was set to take place in April,” the report cited.

In the days following the street confrontation, Mahomes Sr. took to social media, declaring, “John Rocker is a menace to society.” Rocker, for his part, responded with a tweet, “You really haven’t changed one bit in the last 25 years. Keep my name out your loud mouth.”

The rivalry between the two baseball players dates back more than two decades, coming to a head during their times with the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves in the late 1990s. Rocker gained notoriety in 2000 for making a series of controversial comments in a Sports Illustrated interview that were widely condemned.

Despite the feud, neither pitcher has publicly commented on the cancellation of their anticipated bout. Portnoy, however, maintained that the idea for the fight originated with the players themselves, stating, “They came to us to do this. How would we ever come up with this concept?”

In recent years, Mahomes Sr. has faced multiple legal issues, including arrests for driving while intoxicated. Rocker also remains a divisive figure due to his past remarks and behavior during his playing career. Both men continue to maintain significant media attention surrounding their personas and disputes.