Shaun Deeb is taking a major risk by putting his money where his mouth is. According to Poker News, the 2018 WSOP Player of the Year has made a bet with fellow poker pro Bill Perkins that he can reach 17% body fat by the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP), which is about 14 months away. If Deeb succeeds, he will be rewarded with a $1M prize.
Deeb’s current body fat percentage is not known, as he is just scheduling his first DEXA scan – which measures bone density, muscle mass, and body fat. However, he tweeted on Wednesday that he stands 5 feet 11 and weighs 306 pounds. A body fat calculator can give a rough estimate of his baseline body fat, which is approximately 41.3%.
Dr. Isaac Alexis, founder of Slim Samurai Weight Loss Therapeutics, has stated that it is generally safe to lose 2% of body fat per month. According to this guideline, the lowest level of body fat that Deeb can hope to safely reach after 14 months of training is 27.3%.
Deeb’s motivation to make this bet was likely his most recent WSOP Circuit ring, which he won by defeating heads-up opponent Giyeon Han in the Turning Stone Casino $1,700 Main Event on March 27 in Verona, New York.
When Deeb shared a video of his first workout on Twitter, the poker world was behind him. Many players sent encouraging messages, hoping for Deeb to succeed in his ambitious mission. Unfortunately, Perkins has a track record of winning prop bets, even those designed to make his friends healthier. Doug Polk recently lost $200K to him after wagering he could lose 50% of his body fat in a year, falling just 2% short.
Nevertheless, Deeb is determined to win this bet, putting his money on the line to show that he is up to the challenge.
