{"id":470173,"date":"2026-02-10T08:04:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T08:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/470173\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T08:04:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T08:04:12","slug":"i-could-have-been-fighting-aj-for-a-hundred-mil-rio-ferdinand-reflects-on-his-boxing-ambitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/470173\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I Could Have Been Fighting AJ for a Hundred Mil!\u2019 \u2013 Rio Ferdinand Reflects on His Boxing Ambitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Rio Ferdinand<\/a> retired from professional football in 2015, slowing down was never part of the plan. For a man whose life had always been governed by discipline, pressure and routine, movement remained essential. And for a brief but intense period, that movement took the form of boxing.<\/p>\n

Ferdinand didn\u2019t dabble. ‘I trained for six months,’ he tells MH. ‘Sparring at the gym in Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield. I\u2019d drive for four or five hours in the car on a Monday to train.’ The seriousness extended beyond the gym floor. He even built a boxing ring in his garden. ‘I was serious,’ he adds.<\/p>\n

At the time, Ferdinand was exploring what came next after football. Boxing offered structure and focus. It also appealed to his all-or-nothing mindset. Looking back now, he can laugh at just how far he took it. ‘I could have been fighting AJ for a hundred mil!’ he jokes.<\/p>\n

Want to train like Rio? His PT, Amandio Costa, has created a four-week plan exclusively for members of the MH SQUAD. Join the MH SQUAD to access the plan, or existing members can head straight into their app.<\/p>\n

Join now<\/a><\/p>\n

\"mens<\/a><\/p>\n

But the ambition didn\u2019t become reality. When Ferdinand applied for a boxing licence, it was rejected. ‘Someone died the weekend that my license went in,’ he explains. The timing was sobering and the decision that followed was immediate. ‘It was either now or never,’ he says.<\/p>\n

Boxing was shelved, but the lesson stuck. The experience reinforced a pattern that runs throughout his post-football life: when he commits, he commits fully.<\/p>\n

Hear Rio on the latest Men’s Health: Built For Life<\/a> podcast episode, released on Thursday 12th Feb. Follow the Built For Life<\/a> podcast to make sure you don’t miss it.<\/p>\n

\"mens<\/a>\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Isaac Williams is Multiplatform Editor for both Women\u2019s Health UK and Men\u2019s Health UK, guiding and supporting the content teams to create content across all platforms. Isaac\u2019s love of health and fitness began at Loughborough University, where he graduated with a History and English degree in 2014. His first job was at Men\u2019s Running magazine, where he progressed from Staff Writer to Editor. Among his highlights of those four years include completing a 24-hour track race (never again), just about finishing a multi-day ultramarathon in the Azores, and chugging his way around a \u2018beer mile\u2019. Isaac ventured into the world of freelance journalism in 2018, interviewing some of the biggest names in sport \u2013 like Anthony Joshua and Ben Stokes \u2013 and writing features for the likes of The Guardian, Red Bull, ShortList and BBC Countryfile. He was also a regular contributor to an adventure series called \u2018The Man Who\u2019: speaking to some of the world\u2019s most extreme explorers from the wilds of Caff\u00e8 Nero. In late-2019, Isaac became Editor of Men\u2019s Fitness UK. In his five years there, Isaac was responsible for editing the monthly magazine and managing website content, ultimately helping the brand transition to a \u2018digital-first\u2019 approach. He joined Hearst UK as Multiplatform Editor in December 2024, where he manages day-to-day digital output, edits content and writes articles on all things health and fitness. When he\u2019s not hammering at his keyboard, Isaac enjoys exercise and trying \u2013 \u00a0unsuccessfully, so far \u2013 to teach his baby son to kick a football. You can follow Isaac on Instagram @isaacw1993<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n