Deron Williams is expected to prevail in his pro debut versus Frank Gore, or so suggest the oddsmakers.

Early lines place Williams as a -250 betting favorite to emerge victorious in a battle of former sports superstars set to meet in a sanctioning pro boxing match December 18 at AMALIE Arena in Tampa. Gore is currently installed as a +200 betting underdog for the bout, which will be featured on the Showtime Pay-Per-View undercard of the already-announced grudge match between Jake Paul (4-0, 3KOs) and Tommy Fury (7-0, 4KOs).

Williams-Gore is billed as a four-round heavyweight bout capped at 215 pounds. The limit better suits that of Gore, the legendary NFL running back who weighed in the 210-215 pound range during his 12-year pro career. At 5’9”, the record setting Gore gives away six inches in height to the 6’3” Williams, a three-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympian who hovered around the 200-pound mark for much of his 16-year pro career.

The justification for the odds in Williams favor is undoubtedly attributed to his combat sports background. Prior to emerging as a star in the NBA and an All-American basketball player at the high school and college level years earlier, Williams was a championship wrestler as a pre-teen in West Virginia. The 38-year-old has also owned and regularly trains at his MMA gym since 2015, and is set to make the transition to boxing.

"Combat sports have been a part of my life since my youngest days. Before I was a basketball player, I was a wrestler," said Williams of his involvement in the recently announced fight. "Since 2015, I have had the privilege of owning an MMA gym, and through that I have trained in various martial arts to stay active.

“Over the last year, I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to translate my training into a professional debut. I’m making that happen on December 18 against Frank, one of the physically strongest NFL players in history."

Gore boasts a considerable advantage in the way of boxing experience, having regularly trained since at least 2012. The stocky running back is known for his endurance and explosiveness on the gridiron, having played more games (241) than any other player at his position. His commitment to boxing goes as far back as his training sessions which were captured nearly a decade ago by former BoxingScene.com contributor Ryan Maquinana.

The record-setting rusher—best known for his ten seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and currently third in all-time NFL rushing yards—is now prepared to bring his talent to the ring.

"I’m excited to be fighting on this card and can’t wait to show the world what I’ve been working on," vows Gore. "Boxing has me excited, and on December 18 expect fireworks.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox