GREEN BAY – A day after the first time Javon Bullard stepped into the ring this offseason, he couldn’t move. Arms were heavy. Legs were noodles. The Green Bay Packers nickel cornerback vegged out on his couch all day, unexpectedly limp.
He’d become drawn to boxing because he thought it not only looked cool from outside the ropes, but also could be a fun way to work on his conditioning. Little did he know the sport required much more than arm power. Talk to a regular boxer, and they’ll say almost nothing tests the entire body more.
“Anybody that boxes,” Bullard said, “they know. It’s one of those things any given time, you’re liable just to pass out in there. But it’s also a beauty when it’s done the right way. I’ve grown to love the sport, and I think it’s benefited me in a positive manner.”
That benefit is where Bullard’s newfound passion becomes intriguing for the Packers defense this fall.
A year ago, Bullard ascended into not only one of the best defensive players on the Packers roster, but someone who might become a top nickel in the NFL. Almost nobody rallied quicker to the football, ideal for a position that’s constantly in position to make plays. Bullard’s tackling ended plays before ball carriers had a chance to get downfield. His coverage closer to the line of scrimmage was tighter than it had been as a rookie playing deeper at safety.
About the only thing lacking in Bullard’s game was takeaways. It was a team-wide problem, their 14 takeaways in 2025 fewer than all but three teams, but Bullard presents maybe the best solution if the Packers turn that into a strength this fall. His speed from the nickel position should provide plenty of chances.
Bullard learned last year that speed can provide plentiful chances to take away the football, but it isn’t enough to complete the job. Bullard never forced a fumble on 83 tackles. It wasn’t for lack of effort.
“Definitely timing,” Bullard said of his inability to force fumbles last season. “It’s one of those things you really can’t explain. Like timing in boxing. I can’t tell you, ‘He’s going to do this, and then you knock his ass out.’ It’s just like a feeling. When you try to get it exactly right, you’ve got to see exactly the point of the ball you’re punching at. I punched my ass off last year, and I didn’t get nothing out of it. I’m hitting helmets, I’m hitting everything but the ball.
“So it’s really about precision and accuracy. That timing, it’s got to be like – you only get a split second when that ball is at its open point, basically. So that timing is impeccable. You’ve got to be right on point.”
Bullard quickly discovered after taking up boxing this offseason the sport can be used for more than a good cardio workout. The same intuition for timing punches in the ring can translate to punching the ball on a football field. Bullard said he boxed every other Friday throughout the offseason, sparring with a former boxer at his home gym in Georgia. Those sessions were grueling, but Bullard enjoyed every bout.
He showed early in camp why the extra punches might pay off. On a short checkdown to Skyy Moore, Bullard delivered a high hook on the football. Moore had both arms wrapped around the ball, but the force of Bullard’s punch knocked it loose anyway.
It was a continuation of Bullard’s strong spring, including a leaping interception of quarterback Jordan Love as he undercut a fade thrown for Christian Watson in the team’s minicamp.
“We always talk about style of play,” coach Matt LaFleur said, “and he always epitomizes what we want to be about. It’s been a very, very productive spring for Bull.”
If Bullard’s constant activity around the football starts leading to more turnover-generating plays, he’s poised to become one of the NFL’s more-promising young defensive backs. He knows taking away the football is the next step in his development. And Bullard doesn’t need to wonder if he’ll get those chances. At nickel, he might get more than any other player on defense.
He just needs to keep swinging those punches.
“It’s always on my mind,” Bullard said. “Because you’re a competitor. Your teammates made plays. Your peers made plays. The guys on the other teams made plays. The other defensive backs made plays. It’s like, yeah, you’re making plays, but are you taking the ball away? At the end of the day, that’s what matters. That’s what’s going to get you paid, and that’s what’s going help this team win games.
“So it’s always on my mind. You think about it all the time.”
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers nickel Javon Bullard takes up boxing to better punch out football
Reporting by Ryan Wood, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Packers News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ryan Wood, Green Bay Press-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
