Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has retired from boxing after being refused a licence application by the British Boxing Board of Control.
The 39-year-old who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time at Old Trafford announced his intention to box as part of a Betfair campaign last September.
However, he has now revealed he will not be able to fight, despite training for six months.
A statement from Ferdinand read: “Having been training 4-5 times a week since announcing the aim of achieving a professional boxing licence and stepping into the ring, it is with a heavy heart that I am hanging up my gloves on Betfair’s Defender to Contender challenge.