Wayne Rooney confirms boxing offer, but focused on management

Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has confirmed he has held talks with a boxing promoter about fighting on one of their future events but insisted he remains focused on returning to football management.

Sources earlier told ESPN that Rooney, 38, and his team have discussed the potential for him to box on a Misfits Boxing promotion, though no firm details have been finalised.

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Speaking on “The Overlap” podcast with former players Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher and Jill Scott, Rooney was asked about a potential fight, responding with a chuckle and saying “you never know.”

However, he then downplayed the possibility.

“They’ve been in touch and asked the question but I think at the minute I want to focus on getting back into management, not boxing,” he said.

“There’s been a few [offers] and obviously Misfits have been in and that’s been all over the news. But listen I want to focus on getting back into management, that’s my focus.”

Misfits Boxing has recently staged boxing shows featuring YouTube stars KSI and Logan Paul, millionaire businessman Joe Fournier, reality TV star Idris Virgo and social media influencer Alaena Vampira.

If Rooney were to have accepted terms, he would have appeared on Misfits’ crossover boxing series.

Rooney was recently sacked from his role as manager of Championship side Birmingham City. He also managed Derby County in the Championship, the second tier of English football, and MLS side D.C. United from 2022 to 2023.

The former footballer is a big boxing fan and has supported Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan and the Smith brothers (Liam, Callum, Paul and Stephen).

Hatton would have been a contender to train Rooney if opted to go into boxing.

As Misfits is outside the rules of the British Boxing Board of Control, Rooney would not have been competing as a professional boxer. Nevertheless, a big audience would tune in if Rooney were to have accepted Misfits’ offer.