Yes, we did just use a clickbait headline to lure you in, sorry lads.

Anyway, don’t be expecting to see Shaquille O’Neal step into a boxing ring or cage anytime soon.

If for some bizarre reason that’s what you’re after, check out his “Shaq Vs.” series. He boxes Oscar De La Hoya in an exhibition. Spoiler alert, Shaq doesn’t win.

While he won’t be getting physically involved, the basketball icon may be about the enter the fight game in a business sense.

The four-time NBA Champion has always had a good eye for potential business opportunities.

His business portfolio includes early investments in the likes of Google and Apple before the world really began to take notice. Shaq also went into ownership with famous franchise like Five Guys, Papa John’s, Krispy Kreme and 24-Hour Fitness.

Now, it looks likely he will become an investor with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

O’Neal attended the most recent BKFC event, KnuckleMania.

While he was there as a fan, the 48-year-old also conducted some business meetings while at the event.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

It was a night of both business and pleasure for Shaq, but he must have been entertained with the in-ring action on the night.

Britain Hart picked off Paige VanZant during the latter’s promotional debut. Chris Leben bowed out of the sport with a quick win over Quentin Henry and Dat Nguyen won the promotions bantamweight title.

Shaq even presented Nguyen with his title after his victory over Johnny Bedford.

After the event Shaquille O’Neal had plenty of high praise for the rapidly rising organisation, “These are the greatest, toughest athletes in the world,’’

After his ringside experience he went as far to say he thinks “this is the future of fighting.”

While it may not be the future of fighting overall. BKFC is showing there is a demand for this aspect of mixed martial arts. They have been growing commercially since the organisation’s inception in 2018.

It would be massive for the upstart company to have someone like Shaquille O’Neal affiliated with their work.

He is a world-famous former athlete and can still be found on major American networks as an analyst.

BKFC founder David Feldman echoed that sentiment. While speaking to the media he said, “Who doesn’t know Shaq? And now he’s going to be part of this company and it’s going to make a lot for people want to be part of the company.’’

This isn’t a new practice for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Big names like Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson have previously come on-board to publicly support the blossoming organisation.

However, getting a massive name like Shaq as an investor would be a huge statement by BKFC.

Shaq-Fu

Another big positive when it comes to this potential investment is that Shaq is a long-time fan of combat sports.

He even took up training at the start of the millennium at Jonathan Burke’s Gracie Gym. Shaq trained in disciplines like wrestling, boxing, and jiu-jitsu.

There were even rumours that the giant Shaq would fight the 7ft 2 South Korean kickboxer, Choi Hong-man.

That never came to be, but besides his ringside appearance at recent BKFC events, Shaq is a regular at marquee UFC cards too.

Many will be quick to call this nothing but a pure PR stunt on the part of O’Neal.

Thankfully, according to David Feldman the deal between the pair is almost done and “is merely a matter of dotting the i’s and crossing t’s.”

So, it only seems like a matter of time before Shaq brings his entrepreneurial skills into the fight game.

This can be extremely beneficial for BKFC. Shaq appears to be keen to help with the promotional and business side of the company too. While his actual role is yet to be revealed, when this is officially announced it will be a massive day in the short history of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

So, fight fans or Shaq fans what do you make of the big man becoming an investor in BKFC and how much of an impact will he have?

Let us know in the comment section below, I’ll meet you down there my friend.