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
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