Former England captain Rio Ferdinand has confirmed he will attempt to become a professional boxer with the ultimate aim of challenging for a title belt.
The 38-year-old, who retired from football in May 2015, is taking part in Betfair’s ‘Defender to Contender’ project and will be training with former WBC super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall.
A Betfair press release said Ferdinand would be seeking to qualify for a British Boxing Board of Control licence before starting training and competing for a title belt.
It's happening… Can’t wait to get started with the team @betfair have put together, @richiewoodhall and @meldeane ???? #DefenderToContender pic.twitter.com/s6AmLRo7DN
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) September 19, 2017
Ferdinand said: “Boxing is an amazing sport for the mind and the body. I have always had a passion for it and this challenge is the perfect opportunity to show people what’s possible.
“It’s a challenge I’m not taking lightly – clearly not everyone can become a professional boxer – but with the team of experts Betfair are putting together and the drive I have to succeed, anything is possible.”
Ferdinand, who will also work with personal trainer Mel Deane, added on Twitter: “It’s happening… Can’t wait to get started with the team @betfair have put together, @richiewoodhall and @meldeane #DefenderToContender”
Talent is great but when all said & done grit, determination in the trenches is what gets you thru. Salute the champ! @anthonyfjoshua ???????? pic.twitter.com/Kk2njASXuH
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) April 30, 2017
The ex-West Ham, Leeds, Manchester United and QPR defender, who currently works as a pundit with BT Sport and the BBC, will hold a press conference in London on Tuesday afternoon.
Woodhall, a former Olympic bronze medallist turned Team GB trainer, thinks Ferdinand has the ability to turn professional.
He said: “In all honesty, I think Rio can definitely box as a professional given time. He has natural power in his right hand, is extremely fit and is very enthusiastic to learn which is encouraging.
Hey @rioferdy5 when you're boxing does Vidic come in and take the punches whilst you cover round the back with me? ????
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) September 19, 2017
“Style wise, he’s very raw and I’ll have to develop this which will take time but he has all the natural ingredients, height and reach advantages over boxers in his weight division and definitely has potential to win a title in the future.”
Ferdinand’s love of boxing is apparent on social media, with a picture on his Twitter profile showing him draped in the WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight title belts of his friend Anthony Joshua.
The Londoner, who won 81 caps for England, was in attendance when Joshua defeated Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in April and posed for pictures with the Olympic gold medallist.
Boxing Fridays…. left right left right… boom! Don't beat round the bush…When ya get ur licence back @Tyson_Fury ?!! ???????? pic.twitter.com/8ThZRcJ1uH
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 30, 2017
There are also several videos on his Instagram page showing Ferdinand training with the gloves. One from July features ‘Eye of the Tiger’ playing in the background with a caption that reads: ”Boxing Fridays…. left right left right… boom! Don’t beat around the bush….”.
Ferdinand goes on to tag former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, asking ”when ya get ur licence back?”.
A video from January also shows Ferdinand fire off a stream of punches into impact pads, interspersed with hyperbolic challenges in the direction of Joshua – who he first reminds of a shared holiday in Dubai – and decorated British boxers Tony Bellew and David Haye.
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