Rio: Boxin g is a way to deal with my grief
Football star Ferdinand has a new career in ring
AFTER two painful years grieving following his wife Rebecca’s tragic death from cancer, Rio Ferdinand is coming out fighting with a new career as a boxer. The former Manchester United and England defender showed the first signs of making a fresh start when he began a new relationship with TOWIE star Kate Wright, 26. But as he announced his plans to be a professional boxer yesterday, Rio admitted it was a way of “channelling his aggression” and coping with the grief he still feels after Rebecca died of breast cancer at the age of 34. Rio, 38, whose beloved mum Janice St Fort, 58, died of the same disease in July, said: “With grief you need to have a focus in life. This is a focus. “This is me having something to channel aggression and the different emotions that have arisen through the events of the last few years.” Rio, who has three children, Lorenz, 10, Tate, eight, and Tia, five, admitted his plan took some people by surprise.
FOCUS
He said: “Everyone said, ‘It’s a big step, you’re mad, are you crazy?’ But my friends and family were like, ‘If you fancy it, then why not?’” Rio, who spoke of being widowed in the documentary Being Mum and Dad earlier this year, said: “I’m not coming into this lightly. “The first thing the kids said was, ‘You better not lose, Dad’. “This is an opportunity to influence my kids, to show you need to have focus and discipline.” Rio said he had missed competitive sport since retiring from football. He said: “I thrived playing under pressure. I don’t necessarily miss playing football, but I miss the adrenaline, the competing day to day, the mental and physical warfare that goes on in your head.” His trainer Mel Deane, who was also Rebecca’s boxing coach, revealed he and Rio have worked together for two years. Mel said: “I think it’s good that he can focus on something. “His kids are happy and he’s in a good place right now.”