Zuckerberg Calls Time on Cage Fight Challenge from Musk, Urges Focus Elsewhere

The anticipated showdown between tech moguls Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk appears to be in jeopardy, with Zuckerberg expressing his frustration and signalling a desire to put an end to the saga.

Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, declared that Musk’s commitment to the proposed cage fight lacked sincerity, prompting him to call for a halt to the discussions. The two billionaires had engaged in a playful exchange of challenges, but the details of the confrontation remained nebulous.

Taking to the social platform Threads, Zuckerberg conveyed his exasperation, stating, “Elon won’t confirm a date, then says he needs surgery, and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead. If Elon ever gets serious about a real date and official event, he knows how to reach me. Otherwise, time to move on. I’m going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously.”

While Zuckerberg, aged 39, had previously proposed August 26 as a potential date for the fight, Musk, aged 52, had yet to provide confirmation. In a recent announcement, Musk indicated that the bout would be streamed on X, a platform he owns (formerly known as Twitter). He shared that he was rigorously preparing for the fight by engaging in weightlifting throughout the day, and he pledged that all proceeds from the event would be directed to a charity supporting veterans.

Zuckerberg, an enthusiast of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, showcased his martial skills by securing gold and silver in two featherweight white belt categories during a California martial arts tournament in May.

The genesis of the proposed duel traces back to June when the two tech giants seemingly embraced the idea of facing off in a cage fight. The stakes escalated when Meta launched Threads, a platform seen as a direct competitor to Twitter. Zuckerberg triumphantly reported that over 100 million users had signed up for Threads within a few days of its launch, positioning it as one of the fastest-growing apps in history.

However, recent industry insights revealed that Threads was grappling with user retention challenges, as engagement levels plummeted to unprecedented lows. The divergence of the proposed cage match from its initial playfulness to a more serious endeavour parallels the evolving landscape of tech competition and the ambitions of these influential figures.