His name is Rio and he boxes in the ring.
Well, he hasn’t boxed professionally yet, but that is former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand’s intention.
38-year-old Ferdinand hung up his football boots for good over two years ago, but has remained in excellent shape. He previously said that gym work has helped him cope with the loss of his wife, Rebecca, who died in 2015 after a battle with breast cancer.
He confirmed the move into the ring on Twitter, tagging former boxer Richie Woodhall, as well as Mel Deane, a former Connacht rugby player turned professional trainer.
Gary Neville with the pick of the gags https://t.co/RbZujhFScD
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 19, 2017
One thing that couldn’t be ignored from Ferdinand’s confirmation tweet was the revelation that online gambling company Betfair had ‘put it together’.
So when Ferdinand and his team faced the press following the announcement, the obvious question of how much money the parties stood to gain from the stunt came up.
Rio Ferdinand unimpressed by @RobHarris v.legitimate question about how much he and Betfair shareholders stand to benefit financially here.
— Martha Kelner (@marthakelner) September 19, 2017
Unimpressed with the question, Ferdinand told the event’s organisers not to give Rob Harris, the Associated Press journalist who asked the question, the microphone again.
"Do not give him the microphone again," @rioferdy5 says when I ask how much he's being paid for his boxing stunt with a bookmaker
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) September 19, 2017
Betfair did confirm that Ferdinand was being paid, but they did not explain how his plan to fight benefits the shareholders of the company.
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