By Daily Sports Nigeria on February 12, 2026
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand says he could have battled British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua in a £100m boxing bout after retiring from football, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The former England centre-back looked into entering the ring following his decision to hang up his boots in 2015, but his application for a boxing licence was rejected.
The Manchester United legend, who even built a ring in his garden, trained seriously for six months before his dream was shattered.
“I trained for six months, sparring at the gym in Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield,” Ferdinand told Men’s Health.
“I’d drive for four or five hours in the car on a Monday to train. I was serious. But they didn’t give me a licence. Someone died the weekend that my licence went in.”
Source Punch Ng
Posted February 12, 2026
You may also like...
Okocha speaks on Nigeria vs. South Africa clash...
Heartland disown Deutsch as coach
Serie B Top Scorer Nwankwo Eyes Nigeria Return...
Rivers United And Eunisell Extend Partnership
Olympic doctor bag 60 years jail term
Leonardo Bonucci rejoins Juventus and Gonzalo Higuain joins...
West Ham plot Chukwueze summer hijack
Tennis: Stakeholders dream big after Davis Cup promotion
Chelle on Marseille shortlist to replace De Zerbi
Edo Sports Commission boss applauds Niger Delta Games facilities
I could have fought Joshua for £100m — Ferdinand
CAF begins stadium inspection ahead of AFCON 2027
Outrage as World Cup 2026 tickets hit $143,000 on FIFA’s platform
Falcon stars gear up for WAFCON title defence
Nigerian coach in search of viral local high jumper
Ikpefan places 65th in Winter Olympics opener
NSC gives 26 athletes N200m Commonwealth Games grants
Chelle committed to Eagles job – Gusau
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,549 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,855 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,763 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,410 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,322 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,239 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,107 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,658 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,829 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,359 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,750 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,214 views)