Five questions for 49ers rushing champ Gore before boxing debut

Frank Gore is on the phone, hustling between interviews to promote his professional boxing debut Saturday night in Tampa, Fla.

Gore, 38, zips through questions with ease and success. He sounds excited, eager for the next chapter in an athletic career that, over the previous 16 years, saw him become the third-leading rusher in NFL history.

Soon, he’ll bob and weave from punches thrown by former NBA all-star Deron Williams, who’s favored in the four-round heavyweight bout on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley II (Showtime pay-perview).

Here are five questions from Wednesday’s exclusive interview with Gore, whose fight falls on the eve of the 49ers’ game Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium:

1. Was your most rewarding when you beat the Falcons to go to the Super Bowl in the 2012 season?

“Yeah, that’s the best one. I love all my wins. To win that one, and with the guys I did it with, those were the guys we grew together as a team.”

2. What do you remember about that game?

“They got up on us early. We fighting and we stayed together. And after my (go-ahead) touchdown, I did the Dirty Bird,” a celebration dance made famous by former Falcons star Jamal Anderson.

3. What was the best hit you delivered in the NFL?

“I don’t know. I had a lot of good hits. I put a lot of people in the dirt.” (Gore said his best stiff-arm was to Seattle Seahawks’ Kelly Jennings, in a 2008 game).

4. What do you think of the current 49ers?

“They’ve got a good chance to go on a run. They’re playing good ball. They’ve got a good chance and they’ve got to stay together.

“Kyle does a great job getting the offensive guys open. The defensive front is pretty good. And my boy Deebo, he’s the real deal.

“If they make a run to get in the playoffs, they’ll be a scary team.”

5. Is this boxing career a oneand-done deal or will there be more fights?

“I don’t know. I always wanted to do it, and Saturday, I’ll do it.”