YouTube star KSI has claimed Wayne Rooney wants to fight him in the boxing ring.
The social media sensation, who is an icon with young people in the UK, is currently on the comeback trail in boxing after taking almost three years out of the ring. He defeated two opponents in one night back in August and is now preparing to face Bellator MMA star Dillon Danis next month at the OVO Arena Wembley.
And at an unspecified time during his time boxing after making his debut in 2018, KSI claims that England and Manchester United football legend Rooney offered to get in the ring with him. The Scouse footballer is a massive boxing fan, and reportedly is going to join Tyson Fury in camp for his world heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk next year.
Speaking at a press conference for his fight with Danis in London today, KSI detailed Rooney's efforts, saying: "It's funny, and I hope he doesn't get annoyed that I'm saying this, but Wayne Rooney hit me up saying 'oh we should fight'. I said 'no', I just don't want to do that. If Wayne Rooney is down, I think it would be good to have him in the [influencer boxing] space."
Rooney comes from a boxing family, but opted during his career to pursue football instead of fighting, where he became a legendary player at Everton and Manchester United. He also was the highest-scoring player of all-time for the England national team, before Harry Kane equalled him at the World Cup this year.
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The former footballer was recently spotted at ringside for Fury's win over Derek Chisora, where he declared that the heavyweight champion should be knighted. And Fury claims that he has since agreed to join him in camp, given that he needs a smaller man to prepare with for Usyk, who is half-a-foot shorter than him.
"I spoke to Wayne last night and he's well up for it," Fury said in an ITV interview. "But he's a right-handed person, so he has to switch up to be a southpaw, left-handed. So we're going to bring Wayne in for preparation for Usyk." Asked if he was joking, Fury responded: "No, [I'm being] very very serious. He's agreed, so he's going to come into camp for about four weeks and help me. I'm a big fan of his as well."