Rio Ferdinand has confirmed his move into the boxing ring.
The former England and Manchester United star announced on Tuesday that he will attempt to become a professional boxer as part of Betfair's 'Defender to Contender' challenge.
Ferdinand, 38, scheduled a press conference to make a "major news announcement", where he will expand on his decision to get in the ring.
The 38-year-old said: “When Betfair approached me about the Defender to Contender challenge, the chance to prove myself in a new sport was a real draw.
“Boxing is an amazing sport for the mind and the body. I have always had a passion for it and this challenge is the perfect opportunity to show people what’s possible.
"It’s a challenge I’m not taking lightly, clearly not everyone can become a professional boxer, but with the team of experts Betfair are putting together and the drive I have to succeed, anything is possible.”
Richie Woodhall, Olympic boxing trainer, said: “In all honesty, I think Rio can definitely box as a professional given time. He has natural power in his right hand, is extremely fit and is very enthusiastic to learn which is encouraging.
“Style wise he’s very raw and I’ll have to develop this which will take time but he has all the natural ingredients, height and reach advantages over boxers in his weight division and definitely has potential to win a title in the future.”
Currently a pundit for BT Sport, Ferdinand has stayed in impressive shape since his retirement from football.
It appears he is planning to put that fitness to good use in the ring.
Ferdinand would be following in the footsteps of former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff, who strapped on the gloves after a hugely successful career in his primary sport.
Flintoff's campaign to become a boxer was documented in a Sky 1 documentary series, up until his victory over Richard Dawson at the Manchester Arena in November 2012.
The cricketer was much-derided for his efforts in the ring, however, and ended his career after that one fight.
Ferdinand's connection with BT Sport suggests his own bid for glory in the ring will likely be filmed also.
After retiring from football in 2015, Ferdinand has been dropping hints about this proposed move for a while now.
His fitness regimen heavily involves boxing and he's a close friend of Anthony Joshua.
Ferdinand appeared in the ring with AJ at Wembley and posed with his belts after his blockbuster victory over Wladimir Klitschko.
It's not yet known who Ferdinand is targeting to fight, but he's previously - as a joke we were led to believe - called out Tony Bellew, David Haye and Tyson Fury.
Earlier this year he shared footage on social media of a boxing training session with trainer Mel Deane.
Former professional footballer-turned-champion boxer Curtis Woodhouse has already thrown his support behind Ferdinand.
"Wish Rio Ferdinand all the very best if he decides to give pro boxing a go. Who is anybody to say what he can or can't do. Live ya life," he said.
Woodhouse, who played for Birmingham in the Premier League along with Sheffield United, become British super-lightweight champion while juggling non-League management roles.
No stranger to a bit of banter on Instagram and Twitter, he told Everton fan Bellew: "I’m here. I’m waiting. I’m ready, pal. Are you ready?"
He's also goaded Haye in another video: “You want some? I’m here, mate. I’m here. Working."
Even his mate Joshua, who he shared a holiday with in Dubai, hasn't been immune from the light-hearted trash talk.
"I’ll take you out. I will cut you down. I’ll take you out, AJ! Come on son! You want some!” he joked.
Showing off his match-fit physique earlier this year, the former centre-back revealed to Men's Health that his motivation was far from vanity.
Ferdinand said he was hitting the gym so hard to find something close to the mind-clearing impact playing football used to bring.
He adds that his fitness work helped him cope with the devastating death of his wife, Rebecca in 2015, after a battle with breast cancer.
"[The gym] enabled me to free my mind," Ferdinand revealed in a wide-ranging interview with Men's Health's The Body Issue 2017.
"You’ve got to remember, when I played football, when I’d step onto the pitch, there was nothing I thought about but football. It was a clear space, a little release time.
"Without the gym, I don’t know where I would’ve had that release time – that time just to think about nothing, or to think about something other than what was going on in my life.
"The gym really played a part in that, and that’s why I’ve clung onto it."
Now he's taking that gym work to the next level.
"For me it’s a place where your mind gets to take a break for a bit," he said.
"I’m simply happier when I’m in the gym and working out, and I think everything else flows better when I’m doing that. It invigorates me and calms me at the same time."