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      Rio Ferdinand, Marcin Wasilewski, Wayne Bridge and more footballers who swapped football for fighting

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      FOOTBALLERS are always encouraged to think about what career path they will take when they hang up their boots.Some choose to go into coaching, others invest in property… and some decide to knock lumps out of one another.
      Marcin Wasilewski is set to begin a career in cage fightingCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Former Leicester defender Marcin Wasilewski has become the latest ex-pro to swap shin pads for mouth guards.
      The Pole, 40, retired from football in November 2020 and is set to enter the world of cage fighting.
      A bout with ex-Bolton and Hearts defender Blazej Augustyn is even being lined up.
      Here, SunSport details the fighting careers of five other footballers who have turned to the ring.
      Rio Ferdinand
      England legend Ferdinand’s football career brought several glittering moments but his boxing days were over before they really started.
      Sponsored by a betting company to step into the ring in September 2017, the former defender was jarringly denied a licence.
      The British Boxing Board of Control deemed it ‘not beneficial’ to allow Ferdinand his second career.
      And the Manchester United hero quickly called time on his boxing comeback.
      He said: “It is with a heavy heart that I am hanging up my gloves.
      “To not be given the chance to demonstrate my ability to the BBBofC through the standard assessment afforded to others is hard to take.”
      Fast forward to October 2020 and Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn revealed his desire to stage an Old Trafford showdown between Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney.
      Rio Ferdinand won a shedload of trophies as a footballerCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The ex-defender was unsuccessful in his attempt at a boxing careerCredit: OnEdition
      Katie Taylor
      Arguably the world’s top female boxer, Taylor is also a former Republic of Ireland international footballer.
      The ex-winger starred for Peamount United in the late 2000s yet missed her side’s FAI Women’s Cup final in 2009 to be crowned Europe’s best amateur fighter.
      Taylor won 11 caps for her country, scoring twice, before choosing to focus on boxing a decade ago.
      Former team-mate Marie Curtin would later tell the Mirror that Taylor ‘would have excelled to the highest level’ had she stayed in football.
      Curtin added: “There were no barriers. Her mindset is so strong and you need leaders like that on your team to win.”
      And Taylor fondly remembers her playing days, even recalling a crunching tackle that was posted on Twitter a couple of years ago.
      I remember it well Derek, it was intentional haha! Thanks for sharing!!— Katie Taylor (@KatieTaylor) January 5, 2018

      Katie Taylor played a number of times for the Republic of Ireland women’s teamCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
      Wayne Bridge
      Hardly the most aggressive left-back of his day, ex-Chelsea man Bridge showed the fire in his belly with a stint in boxing two years ago.
      A Sport Relief clash with Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews saw the defender take on a man nine years his junior.
      The three-round affair started tightly before Bridge unleashed a barrage of blows.
      Matthews hit the deck twice and yet made it to the final bell, at which Bridge won on points.
      The former England international, who has also appeared on I’m A Celeb, retired from football aged 33 in 2014.
      His boxing career ended with that one charity fight and he is now said to refer to himself as a ‘stay-at-home dad’ for the two kids he shares with wife Frankie.
      Wayne Bridge retired from football aged 33 due to an injury nightmareCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      He agreed to a charity contest for BBC Sport ReliefCredit: BBC
      Leon McKenzie
      A star forward for the likes of Norwich, Peterborough and Coventry on the pitch, McKenzie would later forge a decent super-middleweight career.
      Having hung up his boots in January 2013, he pulled on the gloves just six months later.
      A debut win over John Mason at Bethnal Green’s historic York Hall set him on a string of nine fights without defeat.
      An English title fight with Jahmaine Smyle saw McKenzie suffer a first defeat before he rounded off an 11-fight career with a nine-round loss to Cello Renda.
      The ex-striker also joined forces with former England cricketer Steve Harmison for a talkSPORT podcast on sports stars’ post-retirement plans.
      He said: “For a while I was trying to hold on to ‘former professional boxer and footballer’. That was my identity. I’ve accepted my position now.”
      Leon McKenzie helped Norwich win promotion to the Premier League in 2004Credit: PA:Press Association
      The 42-year-old put together an impressive 11-fight boxing careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Curtis Woodhouse
      Few footballers have made the switch to boxing as convincingly as Woodhouse.
      Birmingham paid £1million to sign the midfielder from Sheffield United in 2001 before spells with Peterborough, Hull and more.
      Disenchanted with the game, he quit aged 26 to spark a long career in the ring.
      An assault conviction halted Woodhouse’s rise but he soon began teaming both of his sports.
      Over 31 fights, he claimed 24 wins and went 12 rounds with Frankie Gavin for the WBO Intercontinental welterweight belt in 2011.
      The Driffield Destroyer won English and British level titles before retiring in 2017, and can now be found managing non-league Gainsborough Trinity.
      Birmingham once paid a seven-figure fee to sign Curtis WoodhouseCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The midfielder teamed a non-league career with a number of boxing boutsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Woodhouse lost six stone in weight when returning from a spell away from the ring
      Katie Taylor vows to fight on until women are given equal pay with male fighters ahead of world title defence More

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      Evander Holyfield still wants Mike Tyson boxing trilogy fight despite his ‘sad’ first round TKO loss to Vitor Belfort

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      EVANDER HOLYFIELD insists he is still open to a trilogy fight with Mike Tyson despite his first round loss to Vitor Belfort.The 58-year-old was stopped within three minutes of his return to the ring in a clash one fan described as ‘the saddest event I have ever seen in a boxing ring’.
      Hoyfield’s return to the ring did not go as plannedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      He was dropped and stopped in the first round against BelfortCredit: AP
      Yet despite his embarrassing loss to Belfort, Holyfield insists he would still fight Mike Tyson for a third time, 24 years after their second bout.
      Speaking after his defeat to Belfort, Holyfield said: “The guy pushed me, the guy is strong.“But I wasn’t hurt. There wasn’t no shot that hurt me real bad. He got me with a shot and I was off-balance. I’m not hurt. It’s kind of sad.
      “I think it was a bad call, he shouldn’t have stopped the fight that quick.”
      When asked whether he would still fight Tyson, he then added: “Of course I would.”
      Holyfield fought Tyson twice in the 1990s and came out on top on both occasions.

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      Tyson is keen to fight Holyfield for a third time despite their ageCredit: Getty
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      The Real Deal stopped Tyson in their first fight in Las Vegas back in November 1996.
      And he then defeated him again seven months later, albeit in much more controversial circumstances.
      Tyson infamously bit Holyfield’s ear, resulting in a third round disqualification.
      Former heavyweight champion Tyson recently returned to the ring in a bout against fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr.
      The bout ended in a draw, but many were still impressed by the skills Tyson showed.
      Evander Holyfield’s comeback aged 58 ‘shouldn’t be happening’ as concerning training clip, says Michael Bisping More

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      Man Utd’s Ronaldo naps five times a day, while Dwayne Johnson snoozes for four hours… how much sports stars sleep

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      BEING one of the most well known sporting icons on the planet is tiring work.But rather than sleep all night, Cristiano Ronaldo instead takes FIVE naps a day while Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson snoozes for just four hours to keep himself going.
      Cristiano Ronaldo takes FIVE naps-a-day
      Last year, it emerged Man Utd superstar Ronaldo, 36, grabs 40 winks five times each day and sleeps in the foetal position.
      And here SunSport can reveal the different sleep patterns of several other sporting icons from across the globe and how many hours of ‘Zzz’ time they get, according to Online Mattress Review.
      Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson – 4 hours
      The Rock survives on just four hours sleep every nightCredit: Getty – Contributor

      The WWE icon turned movie star hits the sack for just four hours-a-night.
      At 49, Hawaiian born Johnson clocks off between midnight and is up and about again at 4am.
      Presumably to work out at least 25 times a day to maintain his impressive physique.
      Muhammad Ali – 6.5 hours
      Muhammad Ali was a religious man and slept for 6.5 hours after dinner and prayers

      The greatest boxer of all time put many opponents to sleep in his time and would wind down between 10pm and 4:30am.
      As a devout Muslim, much of his time would be split between prayer and training.
      And his evening routine would include a walk after dinner, a quick wash, prayers and short stint in front of the TV before he dozed off.
      Serena Williams – 7 hours

      Serena Williams clocks up a solid seven hours of sleep after socialising and work
      You do not need hawk eye to tell when Serena is out for the count but we can neither confirm or deny whether her snoring makes a racket.
      The tennis sensation takes a solid seven hour sleep between midnight and 7am each day after a post-dinner routine of socialising and work.
      The 39-year-old former world number one is also a mum of a young daughter so her slumbers are no doubt interrupted by the littl’un every now and then.

      Cristiano Ronaldo – 7.5 hours
      Ronaldo sleeps in the fetal position to stay in top shape aged 36

      Ronaldo has perhaps the oddest routine of all the big stars.
      Rather than one lump of rest at the end of each day like most of us, Ronnie reportedly prefers to take short naps of an hour-and-a-half each time throughout the day.
      After dinner, he relaxes with his friends before a swim at 10pm.
      He then takes one of his signature naps until midnight and relaxes until another short burst of sleep from around 3am before waking up for the day.
      Ronda Rousey – 8 hours
      MMA star Rousey does not mess around when it comes to getting the right amount of rest

      MMA and WWE star Rousey’s routine seems pretty standard.
      Eight hours between midnight and 8am.
      Nice and simple.
      Tiger Woods – 8.5 hours
      Tiger Woods – perhaps the greatest golfer in history – spends more than a third of his day asleep

      Woods is generally considered the best golfer of all time.
      And to maintain such high levels, the superstar spends eight and a half hours dreaming of sinking putts and splitting fairways.
      He snoozes from 10pm to 6:30am – proving the early birdie really does catch the worm.
      Tom Brady – 9 hours
      Tom Brady is widely considered the best quarter-back ever to play American Football and he does not compromise when it comes to rest

      Like Woods, Brady is considered the greatest ever in his field.
      The former New England Patriots quarter-back is revered in across the world for his sustained and unrivalled talent.
      And the 44-year-old – who is still playing for the Tampa Bay Bucacaneers – makes sure he touches down to sleep for nine hours each day between 8:30pm and 5:30am.

      Stephen Curry – 9 hours
      NBA star Stephen Curry is one of the longest sleepers on the list with a solid nine hours

      Basketball star Stephen Curry is another record breaker who is set to go down in the NBA history books.
      The Golden State Warriors point guard is another who does not take rest lightly – opting to hit the hay for nine hours between 11pm and 8am every day.
      Inside Cristiano Ronaldo’s luxury yacht as it flies through the water More

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      Watch Anderson Silva, 46, brutal KO fellow ex-UFC champ Tito Ortiz in round one and dedicate win to legendary Bruce Lee

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      ANDERSON SILVA delivered a stunning first round knockout to defeat Tito Ortiz.The former UFC middleweight champion pulled on the boxing gloves to face his fellow ex-MMA star.
      Anderson Silva needed just over a minute to knockout Tito OrtizCredit: AP
      He dedicated his victory to the late Bruce Lee after delivering the brutal KOCredit: Getty

      And ‘Spider’ needed just one minute and 21 seconds to end the contest.
      The 46-year-old said afterwards: “I trained hard for this fight and to show my respect to the boxing world.
      “Now I go back home to continue training and… we’ll see.”
      However, he seems to have hinted at retirement from the fight game when he was asked if this was the last we would see of him.
      Silva replied: “Probably.”
      Silva dedicated his first-round KO to martial arts icon Bruce Lee.

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      He said: “The grand master Bruce Lee says, ‘Be water, my friend’. That’s what I did today.”
      The left-handed Silva slipped several of Ortiz’s slowly delivered punches in a corner early doors before the clash of the MMA legends exploded into life.
      Silva turned Ortiz around and then drilled him with a right hand before unleashing two lefts that sent Ortiz crashing to the canvas face first to the canvas.
      Ortiz did not even make an attempt to get to his feet as the referee stopped the contest at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
      The fight occurred shortly after David Haye had made his successful return to the ring by easily defeating Joe Fournier.

      UFC icon Anderson Silva open to boxing YouTuber Logan Paul More

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      Evander Holyfield, 58, beaten in round one by ex-UFC champion Vitor Belfort in front of former US president Donald Trump

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      EVANDER HOLYFIELD’s shock boxing comeback lasted just a matter of seconds as he was stopped by MMA legend Vitor Belfort.The 58-year-old former five-time world champion pulled on the gloves again as a late replacement for Covid-hit Oscar De La Hoya.
      Evander Holyfield’s comeback was over in less than two minutes as he was beaten by Vitor BelfortCredit: EPA
      ‘Real Deal’ was stopped in the first by the ex-UFC champCredit: EPA
      The former five-time world champion blasted the ref’s stoppage afterwardsCredit: AFP
      Vitor Belfort challenged Jake Paul to a mega-money showdown after his winCredit: AFP
      But the legend’s comeback was over in less than two minutes.
      The fight, which was being called in the commentary booth by Donald Trump, started cagey with the ‘Real Deal’ edging the jab out before Belfort starting to come forward and had Holyfield on shaky legs.
      The ex-boxer swung and missed as he slipped through the ropes as things started looking bad for him.
      Holyfield then looked to be on skates whenever Belfort threw a punch and was soon dropped by a left hand.
      Belfort then came forward as Holyfield tucked up and the referee quite rightly stopped the fight.
      Predictably, Holyfield looked a shadow of himself and completely off the pace, but fortunately it was stopped before any damage could be done.

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      However, the veteran fight feels the official stepped in too quickly to stop it.
      Afterwards he said: “I think it was a bad call.
      “I don’t think the referee should have stopped the fight that quick.”
      While Holyfield’s fighting days look to be over, Belfort could now be set for a mega-money showdown with Jake Paul.
      The Brazilian instantly called out the YouTuber for a $30m Thanksgiving winner-take-all fight.
      Evander Holyfield lays on the mat after being knocked down by Vitor BelfortCredit: Getty
      Vitor Belfort celebrates with his family after defeating Evander HolyfieldCredit: Getty
      Ryan Kavanaugh, head of Triller boxing, firstly said: “We at Triller are agreeing to a full pro fight, Vitor versus Jake Paul; 25 million winner-takes-all.
      “And we want it on Thanksgiving day at the one-year anniversary, Thanksgiving Saturday.
      “Thirty million, winner-takes-all, if Jake says no, we know why.”
      Belfort then added: “Hey, Jake Paul, stop running from me, man. I’m going to teach you a lesson.
      “You can be my kid, you’re going to meet daddy over here at Triller. Stop running.”

      Evander Holyfield’s comeback aged 58 ‘shouldn’t be happening’ as concerning training clip, says Michael Bisping More

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      Evander Holyfield, 58, claims Vitor Belfort stoppage was ‘a bad call’ and slams referee for ending fight ‘that quick’

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      EVANDER HOLYFIELD blasted the referee for stopping his comeback early – even though Donald Trump believes his pal has ‘lost a lot’ after he was defeated by Vitor Belfort.The 58-year-old former five-time world champion pulled on the gloves again as a late replacement for Covid-hit Oscar De La Hoya.
      Evander Holyfield slammed the referee for stopping his comeback earlyCredit: AFP
      The Real Deal was stopped in less than two minutes by Vitor BelfortCredit: EPA
      But the legend’s comeback was over in less than two minutes.
      The fight started cagey with the ‘Real Deal’ edging the jab out before Belfort starting to come forward and had Holyfield on shaky legs.
      The ex-boxer swung and missed as he slipped through the ropes as things started looking bad for him.
      Holyfield then looked to be on skates whenever the former UFC champ threw a punch and was soon dropped by a left hand.
      Belfort then came forward as Holyfield tucked up and the referee quite rightly stopped the fight.
      But the American was adamant the official stepped in too quickly to call it off.

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      Holyfield said: “I thought it was a bad call.
      “I don’t think the referee should have stopped the fight that quick.”
      Former US President Trump was the special guest on commentary during the Triller event.
      And after Holyfield got stopped he admitted: “You could see right from the beginning, he was not the same fighter.
      “That left jab was very slow. He’s lost a lot.”
      Donald Trump even admitted that Evander Holyfield ‘had lost a lot’Credit: Getty
      Holyfield was stopped in the first round by BelfortCredit: Getty
      Holyfield was not the only one to feel the verbal bard of Trump as the ex-American leader even took aim at David Haye.
      The 40-year-old Brit returned to the ring with an easy win over Joe Fournier.
      He won each of the eight rounds – including a 10-8 round in the first after flooring his opponent.
      It seemed to be a fairly soft knockdown, and Trump was rather unmoved by the bout in general.
      And after taking several shots at current president Joe Biden, he then summed up the Haye fight up perfectly when he said: “Right now, the audience likes politics better.”

      David Haye reacts to beating Joe Fournier in comeback fight and calls out Tyson Fury More

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      David Haye, 40, says Tyson Fury is ‘avoiding Anthony Joshua’ and wants to fight Gypsy King instead after comeback win

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      DAVID HAYE said Tyson Fury is ‘avoiding Anthony Joshua’ and wants to fight the Gypsy King instead after his comeback win. Former cruiserweight and heavyweight champion Haye made a shock return to the ring against his friend Joe Fournier.
      David Haye said Tyson Fury is ‘avoiding Anthony Joshua’Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Tyson Fury pictured with old rival David HayeCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
      The British boxing legend, who once managed and promoted Fournier, comfortably won over eight rounds.
      And afterwards, Haye confirmed he would continue in the professional ranks, but only to finally fight Fury.
      But to rub salt in the wounds, he accused the WBC king of swerving long-time rival AJ.
      Haye, 40, said: “I know he’s avoiding Anthony Joshua, I know he’s trying to put trying to put him on the back burner, he doesn’t want that work.
      “I’ll give it to him, I’ll give him that work. He wants to fight, the Hayemaker will come for you.”
      Haye came out of retirement three years after hanging up the gloves following his consecutive defeat to Tony Bellew.

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      So it came completely out of left field when it was announced he would return to fight Fournier, a good friend of his.
      After cruising the eight rounds, scoring a knockdown in the first round with a jab, the boxing juices were flowing again for Haye.
      Immediately afterwards, Haye called out Fury, eight years after they were first scheduled to fight each other.
      He said: “There’s one fighter I’d come back to professional boxing for and that’s Tyson Fury.
      “Tyson Fury, that big fast dosser, I know his kryptonite, I know what he can’t handle.
      “He’s a dosser, it’s his word, he’s a dosser. And I’m his kryptonite. I know that he knows it, his dad knows it, his uncle knows it.”
      I know he’s avoiding Anthony Joshua, I know he’s trying to put trying to put him on the back burner, he doesn’t want that work.David Haye on Tyson Fury
      Haye was due to fight Fury in 2013 but was forced to twice pull out following injury.
      In the years since, the Gypsy King has gone on to become heavyweight champion twice.
      Haye insisted he decided against going for the knockout against Fournier to prevent Fury from fearing a fight between them.
      He explained: “I didn’t want to scare him away. Of course, I did. If I had let my right hand go, he wouldn’t have taken the fight.
      “I know he thinks I’m 40-year’s-old, he thinks I’m finished, I’ve been out the ring, I’ve only had one fight against Joe Fournier.
      “He thinks it will be an easy fight and he’s wrong.”
      Joe Fournier was beaten by David Haye on pointsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      David Haye came out of retirement after three yearsCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Evander Holyfield’s comeback fight against ex-UFC champ Vitor Belfort slammed as ‘one of the saddest events’ in boxing

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      BOXING fans slammed Evander Holyfield’s comeback fight against ex-UFC champion Vitor Belfort as ‘one of the saddest events’ in history. The ageing and dangerously over the hill heavyweight legend made his return after ten years out of the ring.
      Evander Holyfield was beaten by Vitor BelfortCredit: AFP
      Vitor Belfort beat heavyweight legend Evander Holyfield in one roundCredit: Getty
      He did so in replacement of Oscar De La Hoya, 48, who pulled out of facing Belfort, 44, with coronavirus.
      Holyfield, 58, filled in but the fight was moved to Florida after the California State Athletic Commission rightly refused to licence the veteran American.
      But Florida had no such issues and the man once referred to as ‘The Real Deal’ was given the green light to lace them up again.
      Fortunately for all involved it was over before it really began as Belfort scored an early knockdown.
      Holyfield beat the count only to cover up while his Brazilian opponent let them fly, forcing the referee to luckily intervene.
      Those watching on in despair and disgust hit out at the fight online.

      One said: “Holyfield stopped in the first round. That’s one of the saddest events I have ever seen in a boxing ring!”
      Acclaimed reporter Mike Coppinger tweeted: “That was really hard to watch. Florida commission should be ashamed.
      “I thought they might go through the motions like Tyson and Jones. They didn’t.”
      Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole remarked: “This was an absolute DISGRACE.”
      UFC bantamweight Adrian Yanez posted: “This hurts my soul… we shouldn’t have seen a 58 year old Holyfield in the ring.
      “Would definitely rather it have been Oscar lol.” More