Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to fight in the ring? One promoter wants to make it happen...

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 28 Sep 2025 04:46 CDT
• 3 min read

News

Boxing trainer and former professional fighter Malik Scott wants Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to pull on the gloves in a showcase event inside the ring.

Celebrity boxing events are huge moneymakers currently, with YouTubers Jake and Logan Paul and KSI examples of figures who have stepped into the ring for showcase fights.

Boxing legend Mike Tyson even recently fought Jake Paul in an event on Netflix that pulled in huge numbers for the streaming platform.

But, what about if two former Manchester United team-mates got in the ring?

Scott, who has most notably trained Deontay Wilder, wants to make it happen.

"Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Wayne Rooney would bring more eyes to boxing, and I'm all for it," he told Canada Casino.

"Any time boxing gets more attention, it's a good thing. I want people to enjoy the spectacle, not just critique it. Just enjoy the carnival. It would be a global event because these are high-level names that would draw huge numbers."

In the case of Rooney, the name hasn't just been pulled out of thin air as the former Red Devils star is a noted boxing fan and has trained in the sport in the past.

Indeed, he infamously done a shadow boxing celebration after scoring against Tottenham following a video of him jokingly sparring with friend Phil Bardsley inside a house went viral.

Apparently, Man Utd boss Louis van Gaal found the whole thing to be funny.

“Growing up, I remember my dad used to give us the gloves in the house,” Rooney said on Eddie Hearn's BBC Sport boxing podcast.

“It is something I have always loved doing. The night with Bardo, we got home and we put the gloves on. It is something that we do quite regularly – but that one got out!

“After I went down, the video stops but I wasn’t knocked out. We got up and carried on. I remember when we finished and the two of us sat there. My nose had gone and Bardo had blooding pouring out of his mouth. We were both looking at each other, saying: ‘what are we doing?’ But Bardo is the same. He has brought up in Manchester the same way I have in Liverpool. We both love boxing.

“I remember when it was coming out, I remember going in to see [Louis] van Gaal. He was the manager at the time. I said, ‘listen, this story is coming out about me and Phil Bardsley boxing in the house’ and he found it hilarious!

"I think what was perfect was when I scored and the celebration. I didn’t even plan it. When I scored it just came to me.”

As for Ronaldo, he can regularly be seen ringside at boxing events in Saudi Arabia but has never indicated a desire to pull on the gloves.

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