RIO FERDINAND faces stringent tests before he will be granted a licence to box – including proving he is not HIV positive.
Ferdinand has announced he was wants to become a professional boxer and is aiming to prove his class by claiming a title by the end of next year.
But the former Manchester United and England captain is facing a tough enough battle just to convince officials he should be allowed to fight.
With no amateur career behind him, it is by no means a formality that the British Boxing Board of Control will sanction his new career.
Ferdinand has linked up with former world super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall as part of a high intensity learning programme aimed at tuning up his ring skills.
And though his team are planning a series of fights building him up to championship level, he will have to prove he is no mug just to be allowed to make his debut.
On top of that the 38-year-old will also have to go through strict medical tests to ensure he can cope physically with the demands of the sport.
These include brain scans and blood tests for highly contagious and sexually transmitted diseases.
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How will Rio Ferdinand gain a professional boxing licence?
Rio Ferdinand will have to go before the British Boxing Board of Control before he gets a licence to box professionally.
The BBBoC governs professional boxing in the UK and has strict guidelines in place in an effort to minimise the risk to the health of the fighters.
Ferdinand will have to submit a written application to them, and they will then consider his application in the same way they deal with all other boxing hopefuls.
What tests will Rio Ferdinand have to earn a pro boxing licence?
Ferdinand's application will be considered by the BBBoC and will take into account his physical fitness as well as his background in the sport.
Ordinarily, professional licences are only issued once the BBBoC has verified a boxer is good enough to fight by verifying their performances in amateur bouts.
In some cases the Board say they will issue licences to people who have never boxed before, but before doing so they will have to go through a special gym assessment.
Ferdinand will have to prove he has received high level tuition from a professional trainer over a sustained period of time before applying for his licence.
He will then have to carry out his own personal gym assessment where officials will watch him in action to see if his boxing skills are up to the required standard.
If the BBBoC are satisfied he has ability to fight, he will then undergo an interview at local level who will issue a recommendation on his suitability.
But the former football will then have to pass a stringent medical before his application is rubber-stamped.
What medical tests will Rio Ferdinand have before getting pro boxing licence?
All boxers have to prove their physical ability to earn a licence to box in Britain.
Ferdinand will have to submit his medical history, and further reports detailing the results of:
- Medical with opticians report
- MRI/MRA brain scan report
- HIV blood test result
- Hepatitis C blood test result
- Hepatitis B surface antigen blood test result
- Evidence of commencement of Hepatitis B vaccinations
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