In a surprising turn of events, former football star Wayne Rooney has expressed an interest in pursuing a career in boxing. After being sacked from his job as the manager of Birmingham City last month, Rooney is exploring various options for his future, including the possibility of swapping his football boots for boxing gloves.
Rooney, who had a successful career with Manchester United and represented the England national team, reportedly held talks with Kalle Sauerland, a prominent boxing promoter. Sauerland is known for organizing high-profile celebrity fights, which have attracted significant attention and amassed large audiences. This includes bouts featuring popular YouTubers like KSI and Logan Paul.
It is worth noting that Sauerland's company, Misfits, operates independently and is not affiliated with the British Boxing Board of Control. Therefore, any potential fight involving Rooney would not be classified as a professional bout. Nevertheless, the allure of stepping into the ring, even in a non-professional capacity, seems to be enticing for the former footballer.
Rooney's interest in boxing is not entirely surprising, as he has long been a fan of the sport. In fact, he was involved in amateur boxing during his childhood in Liverpool. Additionally, he has demonstrated his passion for boxing on several occasions. A memorable instance was when he celebrated a Premier League goal by shadow-boxing at the corner flag, only to comically stumble and fall during Manchester United's victory over Tottenham in 2015.
Moreover, Rooney has also shown his support for boxing by accompanying boxer Ricky Hatton for a fight in Las Vegas back in 2007. There have even been reports suggesting that he had previously contacted promoter Eddie Hearn to explore the possibility of arranging a fight.
When asked about the potential boxing venture during an episode of 'The Overlap' podcast, Rooney responded, 'You never know.' Although he acknowledged that there have been offers, particularly from Misfits, the former footballer stated that his current focus is on returning to management. Rooney expressed that he wants to concentrate on getting back into a coaching role, rather than pursuing a career in boxing, at least for the time being.
The future remains uncertain regarding whether Rooney will actually step into the boxing ring. Only time will tell if he decides to explore this unconventional path or if he ultimately chooses to pursue opportunities in football management. Regardless, this unexpected twist in Rooney's career has sparked curiosity and speculation among fans and pundits alike.
