Shaquille O’Neal and Charles “Charlie Mack” Alston. Image via: Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/AP | celebrityboxing1/ Instagram Shaquille O’Neal is stepping into a very different arena. The 53-year-old four-time champion has agreed to a celebrity boxing match against Charles “Charlie Mack” Alston, a Philadelphia music industry veteran and former bodyguard for actor Will Smith. The bout was sparked by a viral callout video from Alston, who accused O’Neal of ducking him for years.
Charles “Charlie Mack” Alston calls out Shaquille O’Neal for a boxing match
Charles “Charlie Mack” Alston took to Instagram earlier this week with a pointed challenge directed at O’Neal. Sitting beside Celebrity Boxing CEO Damon Feldman, he recalled a decades-old altercation with the Lakers legend.“We were in Dallas doing an autograph signing, and (O’Neal) came and tried to jump in front of the line,” Alston said. “I chopped him in his neck so he could get back.”For Alston, the scuffle never quite left the rearview. In his video, he called for the two to settle things once and for all inside the ring. “So listen, I’m giving you an opportunity to kind of settle the difference. Me and you, baby, super heavyweight. … I’m calling you ‘Sha-knocked out.’ That’s what you’re gonna be.”Alston, who stands about 6-foot-6 and weighs close to 290 pounds, clearly sees himself as the underdog against O’Neal, a towering 7-foot-1 who played at 325 pounds during his 19-year NBA career. But he’s embracing the size disparity as part of the spectacle.
Shaquille O’Neal accepts Charles “Charlie Mack” Alston’s callout
NBA Hall of Famer, O’Neal accepted the callout for a match. First, he dropped a simple “I accept, let’s do it” in Alston’s Instagram comments. Hours later, he extended his reaction with his own video.“Hey celebrity boxing and Charlie Mack, I accept,” O’Neal said with a grin. “You name the time and place, I’ll be there. Diesel don’t run from nobody.”He continued, “You chopped me in my neck, Charlie Mack, that’s why I talk so funny. Payback time. You better check my police record, Charlie Mack.”It was vintage Shaq, half-joking, half-threatening alongside his inherent charisma. His acceptance immediately sent the clip viral on social media for obvious reason as this could become the biggest event in Official Celebrity Boxing’s history.On his own Instagram page, Alston celebrated the exchange. “So I call Big Fella @shaq out yesterday & he accepted as I knew he would!!!! We’ve been talking about it way too long, now we MUST get it ON!!!!!!!!’’ he wrote, alongside a mock fight poster featuring both men.This wouldn’t be O’Neal’s first time lacing up gloves. Over the years, he’s taken part in playful exhibition bouts with boxing legends Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley. Also Read: Luka Doncic gets sweet high-five from Nikola Jokic’s daughter in a viral courtside clip