What would convince poker icon Dan “Jungleman” Cates and professional sports bettor Ryan “Elf” Noel to trade cards and calculators for gloves and headgear? In this case, it isn’t money, grudges, or online bravado. It’s curiosity—and a willingness to see what happens.
Cates is set to face Noel in a boxing match this Saturday, January 22, at the newly launched Beverly Hills Fight Club on North Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, California. The concept, according to Cates, draws inspiration from the cult-classic film Fight Club, though with a more refined twist.
“A friend of mine is opening the Beverly Hills Fight Club,” Cates explained. “Same idea as the movie, but classier. He knew I’d talked about wanting to try boxing before and kind of nudged me into it.”
A Fair Fight, With Real Stakes
The matchup became official last week when Noel announced the bout on social media, openly speculating about the outcome and even joking about where he might bet on himself. He later expanded on the upcoming clash during an X Spaces session, framing it as a natural crossover between competitive poker and combat sports.
Cates sees the parallel as well.
“When poker or fighting is done for sport, they’re not that different,” he said. “The main difference is that fighting has more physical danger. It’s not totally safe—but at the amateur level, it’s pretty close.”
Both men are entering the ring with limited experience. According to Cates, each has trained in boxing for roughly a month, making the contest about as even as it gets.
“Elf’s trained about as long as I have,” Cates said. “He’s a bit taller, but I make up for it with heart. That part might be unfair—I have a lot more heart than he does.”
More Than Just a Match
For the two-time WSOP Poker Players Championship winner, the bout isn’t only about competition. In recent years, Cates has leaned into a more outspoken role within the poker community, calling out bad actors and advocating for higher standards—sometimes playfully, sometimes seriously.
“My goal has been to encourage people to use poker money for good,” he said. “That means I have to try to be some kind of role model, even if I don’t always get it right.”
Learning to box, he admits, also serves a practical purpose.
“If I keep calling out scumbags, eventually one of them is going to attack me physically,” Cates said bluntly. “It’s bound to happen at some point. Probably not a poker player—but you never know.”
Fighting Expectations
Beyond self-defense, Cates sees the fight as a chance to challenge perceptions—both of himself and of what poker players can be.
“I thought it could be an inspiring story,” he said. “Someone who’s a bit neurodivergent, kind of nerdy, stepping into a boxing ring. That’s not what people expect.”
While inspiration may be the bigger picture, Cates doesn’t hide his competitive side.
“I want to inspire people,” he said. “But I also want to win. That part is definitely selfish.”
Win or lose, Jungleman stepping into the ring feels like a natural extension of his poker persona—unpredictable, fearless, and always ready for the next challenge.
