Rio Ferdinand is set to confirm plans to launch a professional boxing career on Tuesday.

The Manchester United legend's decision to move into the ring is due to be rubber-stamped at a press conference scheduled for a "major news announcement".

Ferdinand's plans to switch sports has caused a storm on social media and one of his former teammates couldn't resist taking a swipe at his ex-England pal.

Gary Neville tweeted: "Hey @rioferdy5 when you're boxing does Vidic come in and take the punches whilst you cover round the back with me?"

Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand during their time together at Old Trafford

Responding to a comment from one of his followers over his failed managerial career, Neville added: "He'd take a 30% win rate?? (all comps)."

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.

Rio Ferdinand is taking on a huge new challenge (
Image:
REX/Shutterstock)
Ferdinand does a reaction drill in a video posted on Instagram (
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Instagram/rioferdy5)
Ferdinand training, as posted on Twitter (
Image:
Rio Ferdinand / Twitter)
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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.

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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.

Cricket legend Andrew Flintoff during his foray into pro boxing (
Image:
PA)
Flintoff celebrates his win over Richard Dawson (
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Getty Images Europe)
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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.

Ferdinand holds the belt won by Anthony Joshua (
Image:
rioferdy5/Instagram)

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.

Rio Ferdinand in Dubai with Anthony Joshua and Lee Westwood (
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INTERNET UNKNOWN)

"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."

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