Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand retired from football in 2015 after a trophy-laden career and he is now set for a professional fight in a ring.
Ferdinand made the announcement he would make the shock switch to boxing in September, 2017.
He made this statement at a press conference to confirm the news and it is expected he will fight in the cruiser-weight or light heavyweight categories.
It is expected to be a TV project, like Andrew Flintoff’s brief journey in boxing, rather than a serious attempt at a new sporting adventure.
Rio Ferdinand is being helped to get a British Boxing Board of Control licence – The former defender turned boxer is looking to go professional in the sport – Ferdinand says he wants to prove himself in a new sport after a successful football career with Manchester United.
Ferdinand will first need however, to qualify for a British Boxing Board of Control licence and he is being helped to achieve that by Betfair.