Sport: Rio Ferdinand announces Boxing as his third career profession

Former Manchester United and England captain, Rio Ferdinand has taken up a surprising decision. The 38 year old will attempt at professional boxing and has started training to achieve his ambition. It is believed that the former defender has taken up the sport in order to stay fit after his retirement and also to get over the great loss of the death of his wife two years ago.

In order to fight, Rio Ferdinand will be needed to acquire his British Boxing Board of Control license with bookmaking site, Betfair set to help him out in every possible way. The 38 year old is taking in part in Betfair's 'Defender to Contenders' project. It is reported that Ferdinand's boxing training will be filmed for an unnamed documentary series with the series concluding with Rio's first fight as a boxer.



Ferdinand confirmed this news yesterday when he said, "When Betfair approached me about the Defender to Contender challenge, the chance to prove myself in a new sport was a real draw. 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 is a football pundit on BBC and BT Sport and also appeared on a documentary last year which focused on his life after the death of his wife, Rebecca. One of the best centre backs from England, Ferdinand has posted several videos of him training in the gym casually challenging professional boxers such as Tyson Fury, Tony Bellew and David Haye to a bout. Rio is also good friends with Anthony Joshua and has attended some of his fights.



The 38 year old is intending to fight for only one match, just like English cricketer Andrew Flintoff did in 2012. Ferdinand has already started doing pad work with Mel Deane, a former Rugby union centre who will work on his conditioning. This decision has made Ferdinand the third British footballer to change gears to boxing after former Sheffield United midfielder Chris Woodhouse and Neil McKenzie, a former Norwich City striker.