RIO FERDINAND was mistaken for a heavyweight boxer at the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou launch event.
The Manchester United legend was one of several celebs in attendance for the event and pre-fight press conference in London on Thursday afternoon.
But he was accidentally mistaken for Brit heavyweight boxer David Adeleye by Top Rank’s lead presenter for the broadcast.
She was seemingly told by producers that Adeleye would be speaking to herself, former UFC star Dan Hardy and retired boxer Carl Frampton after his opponent Fabio Wardley left the scene.
As Ferdinand had his back turned to the presenters and spoke to Wardley, she said: “I think we’re going to try and get his opponent in.
“David Adeleye, can we get him in?”
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The presenter then turned around to try and look for the undefeated heavyweight and was left bemused when Ferdinand popped into her line of vision.
She said: “No? All right, that’s not David Adeleye – that’s Rio Ferdinand. But we are just as delighted to have you with us.”
Ferdinand was quick to give his opinion on Fury’s controversial Saudi showdown with Ngannou after ribbing Frampton for sweating in his plush get-up.
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He said: “The size of these guys. When one of the connects, it doesn’t matter where you’re from – you’re gonna go down.
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“And the power that he’s [Ngannou] got, it he transfers that to this and he gets hit on the chin Tyson [that is] then he will go down.
“But I just think his ring IQ, his footwork and his ability and what he’s shown and experience [will be too much for Ngannou].”
Top Rank eventually got their hands on Adeleye, with their lead presenter quickly making light of the previous mix-up.
That came moments before the Adeleye and Wardley were involved in a crazy pre-fight brawl further down the red carpet.
Things got heated when a fired-up Adeleye repeatedly said “shut your mouth” to someone on media row.
Suffolk slugger Wardley waded in and was quickly on the receiving end of a two-handed shove from his domestic rival.
Members of both men’s teams got involved in the melee which saw Wardley dropped by a left hook from an unknown person.
Wardley seemed to be dazed when he rose to his feet and was nursing a cut to the side of his left eye – which could potentially scupper the fight.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
