15 February 2024 , 11:35
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Wayne Rooney is set for a shock switch from football to boxing, but who could serve as the Manchester United legend's opponent?
The 38-year-old star has held talks with Misfits Boxing about potentially competing in one of their upcoming events. Mams Taylor and Wasserman Boxing's Kalle Sauerland are both in charge of the promotion, which has received huge criticism from traditional boxing fans because of the questionable matchups that have been made.
Rooney is a big boxing fan and once walked out alongside Ricky Hatton for one of his world title fights in Las Vegas back in 2007. The former England captain was part of an amateur boxing club when he was a youngster but he could now lace up the gloves for real, so let's take a look at who he could face in the ring...
1. Jake Paul
The YouTuber-turned-boxer has faced heavy criticism for not fighting actual boxers and instead challenging athletes from other sports, so Rooney fits that scenario perfectly. The seed has already been planted for a fight between Paul and Rooney as Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn floated the idea of staging the fight at Old Trafford.
“After every big fight, especially with a YouTuber, sometimes Wayne Rooney will fire me a message. I’ve said to Wayne, who had a very limited amateur pedigree but could still fight, imagine the shape you’d get in [if you trained for a fight]," Hearn told Sky Sports' Stick To Football.
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"I told him, Wayne Rooney against Jake Paul at Old Trafford, imagine that. I get asked the question all the time, most footballers follow boxing and secretly they’d all love to have a go. Everyone thinks they can fight.” Paul likely wouldn't fight on bitter rival KSI's promotion, so Rooney would have to compete on the American's 'Most Valuable Promotions' for the fight to happen.
Jake Paul celebrates his win (Getty Images)2. KSI
Who better for KSI to face in his Misfits Boxing debut than the founder of the promotion himself? KSI hasn't fought since losing a decision to Tommy Fury last October but plans to have two big fights this year. Rooney challenged the YouTube star to a boxing match last year, but KSI played down the potential mega-fight.
"It's funny, and I hope he doesn't get annoyed that I'm saying this, but Wayne Rooney hit me up saying 'Oh we should fight'. I said 'No', I just don't want to do that. If Wayne Rooney is down, I think it would be good to have him in the [influencer boxing] space," KSI said at a press conference last January.
Who do you want Wayne Rooney to fight in his boxing debut? Let us know in the comments section below
3. Simple Simon
Arguably the most winnable fight on this list for Rooney is a scrap with 53-year-old influencer boxer 'Simple' Simon Colbran. The TikTok star was left facedown on the canvas in just 48-seconds when he fought Ed Matthews at Kingpyn's inaugural 'Settling Scores' event in the summer of 2022.
Things didn't go any better for Colbran against comedian Dapper Laughs last July as he was also knocked in just over a minute. Rooney is 15 years younger than Colbran so would likely be quicker and stronger than the TikTok star, so it's just up to Misfits boss Mams Taylor to make the fight.
Would you like to see Wayne Rooney as a boxer? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
4. Phil Bardsley
The only person on this list of opponents that Rooney (sort of) has boxing experience with is former Man United teammate Bardsley. In what looked like just a playful sparring session in Rooney's kitchen, a video was leaked of the defender knocking him unconscious in 2015. Rooney was left bloodied with a cut lip after being laid out cold for a couple of seconds.
Wayne Rooney was accidentally knocked out by Phil Bardsley
He recreated the moment in a celebration against Tottenham (BPI)Rooney recreated the viral moment in an iconic celebration after scoring in a 3-0 win against Tottenham. "That’s the world we live in today, it was a few mates in a private house which has somehow managed to go front page of a national newspaper. It was me and a few friends joking around, I think it’s more interesting for other people rather than myself," Rooney said of the video.
5. Rio Ferdinand
Rooney's good friend and former teammate Ferdinand wanted to test himself in the ring in late 2017, but was denied a licence to fight by the British Boxing Board of Control. "Despite having never felt better physically or mentally, after notifying the BBBoC of my intention to apply for a licence, I received confirmation they would not be reviewing my application at this point in time," he wrote.
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Although Ferdinand's boxing career was over before it even began, he would likely be able to fight Rooney in Misfits because the promotion is not governed by the BBBoC. That means that a fight for both of the former footballers wouldn't be sanctioned as a professional bout.