Rio Ferdinand Reveals Missed £100m Boxing Fight With Anthony Joshua After Licence Rejection

Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has revealed he could have earned a staggering £100 million in a potential boxing showdown with British Nigerian heavyweight Anthony Joshua after retiring from football.

The former England defender explored a serious move into professional boxing following his retirement in 2015, even constructing a private boxing ring at his home and committing to an intense training regime. However, his hopes were crushed when his application for a boxing licence was rejected.

Ferdinand said he dedicated six months to preparing for life in the ring, travelling long distances and training with discipline.

“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.”

The 47 year old, who won six Premier League titles with Manchester United, believes the decision cost him a lucrative opportunity at the peak of crossover boxing events involving athletes and celebrities.

“I could have been fighting AJ for a hundred mil! I can’t wait around. It was either now or never,” he added.

At the time, several high profile sports stars and public figures were stepping into the ring for blockbuster bouts, with the financial rewards drawing interest from outside traditional boxing circles.

Ferdinand’s rejected licence reportedly followed a boxing related death that same weekend, prompting stricter scrutiny from regulators. His age at the time, 36, is also believed to have influenced the decision.

Beyond his unrealised boxing career, Ferdinand also disclosed the physical toll football has taken on his body. He revealed he has occasionally been forced to use a wheelchair due to severe back pain stemming from his long playing career.