BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT 8,293 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Almost 39 , might be keeping himself in tip top shape , although ffs Rio ,I'd reckon he'll fight boxers nobody has heard much of . Then only have two/three fights at most , If he gets his boxing licence Rio Ferdinand is launching a new career as a professional boxer, two years after he retired from football. The 38-year-old's move into the ring is being backed by betting company Betfair, which announced the news on Tuesday. Former Manchester United and England defender Ferdinand works as a TV pundit and he has his own clothing line. "I'm doing this because it's a challenge," he said. "I've won titles and now I'm aiming for a belt." He has posted several social media videos in recent months showing him boxing and working with personal trainer Mel Deane. Ferdinand, who won the Premier League six times and the Champions League once during his time in Manchester, may follow in the footsteps of former Birmingham City midfielder Curtis Woodhouse and former Crystal Palace forward Leon McKenzie, who became professional boxers after quitting football. Woodhouse became British super-lightweight champion. Former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff also launched a boxing career after retiring, winning his only pro bout in December 2012 against American Richard Dawson at Manchester Arena on points. It was Betfair who approached Ferdinand about making the switch, and the betting company will help him qualify for his British Boxing Board of Control licence before he begins training and competing. The company previously backed Victoria Pendleton in her transition from Olympic cyclist to Cheltenham jockey. "When Betfair approached me about the challenge, the chance to prove myself in a new sport was a real draw," Ferdinand added. 'It's laughable... he could get himself badly hurt' Ferdinand will be coached by Team GB coach and former WBC super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall. "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," Woodhall said. "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." The former centre-back started his career with West Ham and also played for Leeds and QPR, making more than 500 career club appearances. He was capped 81 times for England. Woodhouse told BBC Radio 5 live he was "shocked" to hear of Ferdinand's career change. "When it came up on my Twitter feed that Rio Ferdinand was going to become a professional boxer I thought I'd been hacked," he said. "It's not something you read every day is it? "I've been retired three years myself and one thing I missed - and he's probably going through himself at the minute - is the competitiveness of being an athlete. "Once that's taken away from you it's very, very difficult to replace it, so that's probably what he's chasing - to get that competitiveness back in his life." Promoter Barry Hearn said he thought there was only a 50/50 chance that Ferdinand would receive a boxing licence, and told BBC Radio 5 live: "It's laughable. I like Rio, don't get me wrong, but this is an advert for a reality TV show. "If Tony Bellew, David Haye or Anthony Joshua hit Rio Ferdinand it would probably be prosecutable by the police for using a deadly weapon. He could get himself badly hurt. "It's OK if it's just a bit of fun, making a TV show and making some money. I wish him luck, I hope he enjoys it but be very careful because it's dangerous. "He could get badly hurt and no promoter is going to sanction that. He's being totally naive and underestimating boxing." Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Soprano 13,964 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Hope he gets his cunt punched in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKirk 25,602 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Barry Hearn is a fuckin dinosaur "he could get badly hurt" You could get badly hurt doing almost anything these days so why bother with life Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Specky Forum Organiser 64,428 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 22 minutes ago, KingKirk said: Barry Hearn is a fuckin dinosaur "he could get badly hurt" You could get badly hurt doing almost anything these days so why bother with life Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Specky Forum Organiser 64,428 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 You are obviously more likely to get hurt taking part in a sport where your opponents aim is to punch over and over than 'almost anything' Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Hilts 12,819 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 What a fanny. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred H Crawford 1,182 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 I would be very surprised if he was to receive a BBBoC licence , unless it's for some sort of reality show like Flintoff , where he only has the one bout . Keeping fit by going to the gym is totally different from being in the ring against a real opponent who is fighting back . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombaybadboy08 15,660 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 He couldnae box apples, the prick. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaiser1041 9,088 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Hope the stroke faced cunt gets his cunt punched in Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlbertzLoyalRSC 18,055 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 17 minutes ago, kaiser1041 said: Hope the stroke faced cunt gets his cunt punched in Hope you have a fuckin stroke Then you'll be laughing on the other side of yer face.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Soprano 13,964 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 3 hours ago, Gustav said: You are obviously more likely to get hurt taking part in a sport where your opponents aim is to punch over and over than 'almost anything' The cunt's a proven windae licker mate. Ignore him. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithgersbear 3,225 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 A plaster to cover up the pain of losing his wife and mother that's all this is. Shouldn't be allowed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Specky Forum Organiser 64,428 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 2 minutes ago, Mr Soprano said: The cunt's a proven windae licker mate. Ignore him. I find him amusing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Specky Forum Organiser 64,428 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 1 minute ago, keithgersbear said: A plaster to cover up the pain of losing his wife and mother that's all this is. Shouldn't be allowed. wtf Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithgersbear 3,225 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 Just now, Gustav said: wtf How else do you explain it? He is doing punditry, why bother with this? Needing a high buzz to blank other issues out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Soprano 13,964 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 2 minutes ago, keithgersbear said: A plaster to cover up the pain of losing his wife and mother that's all this is. Shouldn't be allowed. Fuck sake Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeirFleckNRothen 1,789 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 I'm howling at the responses in here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Specky Forum Organiser 64,428 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 17 minutes ago, keithgersbear said: How else do you explain it? He is doing punditry, why bother with this? Needing a high buzz to blank other issues out. Maybe he misses the buzz of competing? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithgersbear 3,225 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 17 minutes ago, Gustav said: Maybe he misses the buzz of competing? Getting splattered all over the canvas at 39 is not competing and it's not that funny, kind of.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Specky Forum Organiser 64,428 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 4 minutes ago, keithgersbear said: Getting splattered all over the canvas at 39 is not competing and it's not that funny, kind of.. Very weird form of self harm this is Keith. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperPapac05 3,383 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 He could get Scott Harrison out of retirement ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cushynumber 25,178 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 didnt Flintoff try the same and after 1 bout gave it up as a really bad idea? I understand the need for individuals who are talented at one thing, trying to show the world that it wasnt just pure luck that got them to where they were - so they take up something else to show people that they would have been millionaires anyway, and its not all down to chance. But boxing is a daft one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEFTONG 60,070 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 I better get in shape..I would punch his cunt in for FREE.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zulu 981 Posted September 19, 2017 Share Posted September 19, 2017 This cunt couldnt fight sleep Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT 8,293 Posted September 19, 2017 Author Share Posted September 19, 2017 6 hours ago, keithgersbear said: How else do you explain it? He is doing punditry, why bother with this? Needing a high buzz to blank other issues out. He also suffers from depression ffs , if he wasny high profile he probably wouldny get a boxing licence Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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