FOOTBALL’S heavyweight hitman is willing to “take out” Rio Ferdinand in the ring.
Wycombe’s 16st striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, known as the ‘The Beast’, says he has already chatted to the England and Manchester United legend about Ferdinand’s decision to take up boxing.
And the former Swansea battering ram, 35, admits he has considered the possibility of boxing against the 38-year-old ex-defender.
Asked if he had thought about boxing, Akinfenwa smiled and said: “I was doing some training – it’s a hard sport so I take my hat off to all the boxers in there.
“I don’t know. Maybe though I’ll try and fight Rio.
“I saw him after he announced it and he’s in good shape.
“I’ve heard little rumours that they want me to fight Rio and I’m like, ‘look I’m still playing football’
“So when I hang up my boots maybe.. I’ll take him out. You’ve heard it here first!”
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But Akinfenwa – a cult hero for being rated the strongest player on the EA Sports Fifa game – insists any fight would be a long way off.
He smiled even wider as he said: “Me and Rio eventually, a long way down the line.”
Ferdinand, though, might not be prepared to wait – because he is planning to get in and out of boxing as quickly as possible.
He told BBC Breakfast this month: “I want to see if I can get a licence and become a professional and have one fight.
“I am not looking to have a career here. I am looking to have a professional fight and I will see where I go then.
“This is not a joke. Hopefully, I will get a license, go on to become a professional and fight someone.
“Boxing can’t be a gimmick. If I take it lightly, I will get hurt.”
Former world heavyweight champ Tyson Fury and current IBO middleweight champ Chris Eubank Jnr are among British fighters who have already offered to help Ferdinand train for his switch of sports.
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