During his 19-year NBA career, Shaquille O’Neal’s physical dominance led to him winning four championship rings. Now, he’ll see if that physical dominance can translate to success inside the boxing ring.
O’Neal recently agreed to a celebrity boxing match that will pit him against Charles “Charlie Mack” Alston. Alston issued a challenge to O’Neal through an Instagram video, and the Hall of Fame big man accepted.
In his challenge, Alston cited a longstanding beef between the two, outlining the origins of their feud. Here is what to know about the lighthearted beef between the two giants and how they’ll be settling the score.
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Shaquille O’Neal-Charlie Mack beef, explained
In a video shared to the Official Celebrity Boxing Instagram account, Alston appears with Damon Feldman, the organization’s creator. Alston challenges O’Neal to a fight and explains that their differences stem from a run-in decades ago.
“I’m making an open call to Shaquille O’Neal,” Alston began. “I chopped him in his neck. We came to an autograph signing — we’re in Dallas doing an autograph signing — and he came and tried to jump in the front of the line. I chopped him in his neck and told him to get back.
“So listen, I’m giving you an opportunity to kind of settle the difference. Me and you, baby, super heavyweight. … Let’s go Shi- . I’m calling you ‘Sh-knocked out,'”
Given the nature of the origins and Alston’s challenge, the beef seems to be lighthearted. O’Neal didn’t waste much time responding to — and accepting — the challenge.Â
“Hey Celebrity Boxing and Charlie Mack, I accept,” O’Neal said. “You did chop me in my neck, Charlie Mack. That’s why I talk so funny, it’s payback time. You name the time and place, I’ll be there — Diesel don’t run from nobody.”
He then closed his video with sound effects and mime motions to display “How fast I am” in the ring.
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Shaquille O’Neal boxing fight details
The details of the fight have not yet been ironed out, but Celebrity Boxing has created promotional materials and shared that more information on the event will be available soon at xrumble.com
Who is Charlie Mack?
Charles “Charlie Mack” Alston is a longtime figure in the music and entertainment industry.
He hails from Philadelphia and has been involved in the industry for decades, having spent time as a record promoter, A&R, road manager, and security. He was a bodyguard and personal assistant for Will Smith and his DJ, “Jazzy” Jeff Townes.
A 2024 article published by Rock the Bells describes Alston as “Philly’s favorite hip-hop folk hero.”
Famously, Alston can be seen near the beginning of the intro video for “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” as one of the individuals with whom Smith gets into the one little fight that frightened his mother.
Smith also mentioned Alston in his lyrics, naming one of the tracks on his second album with Jazzy Jeff.
A Philadelphian through and through, he now hosts “The Jawn” podcast and remains very active on social media, with over 20,000 posts shared on his Instagram account.
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Shaquille O’Neal height, weight
- Height:Â 7-1
- Weight:Â 350 pounds
During his playing career, O’Neal was listed at 7-1 and 325 pounds. In 2023, O’Neal revealed that his weight had surpassed 400 pounds before he lost 55 pounds to get his weight down to 351 pounds.Â
He has not shared any weight updates since.
Charlie Mack height, weight
- Height:Â 6-6
- Weight 315 pounds
There aren’t any confirmed reports on Mack’s measurements, but in Smith’s 1988 song “Charlie Mack (The First Out the Limo),” the lyrics read “Height about 6-6, weight about 290, everywhere I go, Charlie Mack is right behind me.”
Alston has presumably gained weight over the past 37 years and likely weighs north of 300 pounds.
