24 Jan 2026 Beginner This material is for beginner players Poker star Dan "Jungleman" Cates's celebrity boxing match came to a sudden end, leaving many fans confused and arguing over what really happened in the ring. Jungleman faced off with Ryan “Elf” Noel in an amateur bout that was supposed to last for only three rounds. Noel is popular in the sports betting space. However, the referee stopped the fight early in the second round, sparking a massive reaction on social media. JP EXCLUSIVE ANGLE pic.twitter.com/0rjj2EghU7— JP (@JasonsPropz) January 23, 2026 A Strange Moment Changes the Fight Trouble began in the second round. According to circulating social media clips, the duo got tangled up before they hit the canvas. Initially, the referee appeared to step in and separate the fighters, suggesting the bout would continue. Cates looked confused and had not fully recovered to resume the fight. Noel capitalised on the opportunity and rushed forward, throwing a strong punch right then and there. The punch knocked Cates to the mat, prompting the referee to immediately stop the bout. The referee's decision left the people watching the bout confused. According to some viewers, the referee had already stopped the action. Others maintain that the fight was still ongoing. However, that one second of hesitation changed the course of the fight. Was the final blow legal? At first glance, some fans near the ring thought that the referee had disqualified Noel. But later reports said the fight was a no-contest, meaning neither fighter won nor lost. The stoppage really angered Noel, and he was arguing with the officials. The discussion got even louder on social media. Some viewers said Noel threw an elbow, while others argued it was a legal forearm shot. There is no definitive verdict, as the footage circulating online was not clear enough. Despite the confusion, it was apparent that the blow hurt Cates and left him bloodied. Later, Noel posted a short clip that cuts off right after he landed the strike. In the post, he declared himself the winner, despite the official result stating otherwise. https://t.co/6SWlKA7NzK— Elf (@yElff_) January 23, 2026 I WON THE FIGHT 🥊YOU ALL KNOW IT THE VIDEO DOES NOT LIE 🧝 https://t.co/goX20Z2arZ pic.twitter.com/i5lVKU3bB7— Elf (@yElff_) January 23, 2026 Cates Responds and Looks Ahead Cates stayed surprisingly calm after all the chaos. After the fight, he wrote that it was one of the craziest things he had ever done. He acknowledged that Noel was tougher than he thought and that there might have been a misunderstanding that led to the loss. Just got my ass kicked, and because I wasn’t paying attention.But this is the road to becoming a champion… To taking risks with the possibility of getting fucked up, and when it inevitably happens persevering anyway.— Daniel Cates 🇺🇸 🌎 (@junglemandan) January 23, 2026 Furthermore, he reassured his fans that he was okay, even though he had been slammed to the canvas. Cates joked that he learned he had a superpower since he recovered quickly. Nonetheless, his tone changed a little as he took responsibility for the situation. Cates said he got hit because he wasn't paying attention. However, he additionally maintained that this was part of his journey to becoming a champion. Poker Community Reaction Erupts Online Fans, players, and commentators all shared their thoughts on social media. Some people defended Cates, saying the referee's signals weren't clear and made things worse for him. Some people thought that Noel just kept going after the fight started again. Many prominent poker players said the ending was messy and blamed the referees rather than either fighter. Many people thought the fight should never have ended the way it did. Some fans even wanted a rematch to settle things once and for all. Cates talked about why he was going to fight before the fight. He told poker media outlets that playing poker and fighting are both mental sports. Both paths require you to take risks, deal with stress, and keep your mind steady when things get tough. He also said he wanted to learn self-defence and striking is one of the hardest skills to master. Below are a few reactions from the poker community: @DealTheCards15: Clear as day the ref started the fight . The fighter went to pursue his opponent and dropped him. No other explanation. If you say otherwise u just bet on jungle man.— DealTheCards1 (@DealTheCards15) January 23, 2026 @JesseCallsPoker: Not in good spirit. Obviously jungle wasn’t paying attention. Neither of them have ever done this before.— JesseCallsPoker | Jesse Abramowitz (@JesseCallsPoker) January 23, 2026 @cam_paak: Elf won. The ref called them back to fight that's a KO— Cam (@cam_paak) January 23, 2026 @KillStuhDFS: Elf swinging wild as hell 😂 probably felt no threat coming back his way and just went for it— SharkStuh (@KillStuhDFS) January 23, 2026
