Rio Ferdinand Reveals Missed £100m Boxing Fight With Anthony Joshua Due to License Rejection

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand revealed that he missed out on a lucrative £100 million boxing match with British-Nigerian heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua after his boxing license application was rejected. Ferdinand, who retired from football in 2015, had been exploring a move into professional boxing and even constructed a private boxing ring at home to intensify his training regimen.

Despite dedicating six months to preparing for the fight, his application was turned down, with concerns raised about his physical condition. The rejection reportedly followed recent boxing-related deaths, prompting stricter scrutiny of regulations.

Ferdinand, aged 47, highlighted the toll football had taken on his body, revealing he had been forced to use a wheelchair on occasion due to severe back pain stemming from his playing career.