Wayne Rooney has long been seeking a boxing fight and even reached out to Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn.
Ex-England captain, Rooney has reportedly held talks with KSI’s Misfits company, which has welcomed celebrities to its growing universe, although is yet to showcase a sportsman of the ilk of the 38-year-old.
The former Manchester United striker has been out of work since being sacked by Birmingham City in January after just 15 games in charge of the Championship strugglers.
Rooney has been regularly spotted at ringside in the past and is now reportedly looking to test his skills in the squared circle, according to The Mirror.
According to Hearn, the Merseysider used to send him text messages requesting to fight on his shows after having a few drinks.
When asked by Rooney’s former England teammate, Peter Crouch on That Peter Crouch Podcast: “Could any footballers go into it?”
Hearn replied: “Rooney can fight, I’ve spoken to Wayne.
“When Wayne has a drink, he’ll message me and he’ll start going, ‘I’ll fight him and I’ll fight him,’ and I get excited.
“Sometimes I get a message from Wayne saying, ‘Make me vs so and so, make that fight.’
.@WayneRooney and @carras16 ringside #CrollaLinares pic.twitter.com/PXx91FkLlR
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 24, 2016
“I’ll look at it in the morning and go, ‘This is massive.’
“So I’ll message him back, ‘Few glasses of red or [are you serious?]’
“Then he won’t reply and I’ll go, ‘Damn.’
“But Wayne can fight.”
The rumour mill started on Wednesday over who Rooney could face with Sports Lens putting Jake Paul at 4/1 to be his first opponent.
The controversial social media star, who fights for the 10th time as a professional in Puerto Rico on March 2, has shifted the focus of his career towards facing legitimate boxers after building a record which mainly consisted of former MMA stars and influencers.
KSI, who is set to fight later this year after losing for the first time against Tommy Fury in October, is installed as an 8/1 favourite to face Rooney, whilst ex-Premier League defender, Phil Bardsley who infamously knocked out Rooney in a sparring session is 8/1 to fight his former teammate.
‘Wazza’ mocked the viral incident days later after scoring for Manchester United against Tottenham by shadow-boxing before falling to the turf, in what is now appropriately coined the knockout celebration.
