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Patrice Evra is set to make a shock debut in boxing on the undercard of Martyn Ford's heavyweight clash with the 'Iranian Hulk'.
According to The Mirror, the former Manchester United defender will make his ring debut in a star-studded event at the O2 Arena in London on April 2.
Evra won numerous pieces of silverware during his football career, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League, but has never fought professionally.
However, the former France international has previously trained in boxing and was seen hitting the pads in a video released after his retirement from football in 2019.
Evra is now set to make his boxing debut on the undercard of the fight between the self-styled 'Iranian Hulk', Sajad Gharibi, and Ford – dubbed 'the scariest man on the planet'.
Ford, who stands at 6ft 8 inches tall, is a well-known British actor, bodybuilder and personal trainer with over three million followers on Instagram, while 390-pound weightlifter Gharibi has also amassed a huge fanbase on social media.
Former Tottenham and Portsmouth midfielder Jamie O’Hara will also fight in the event against 'weight loss specialist and life coach' Kris Boyson.
Love Island star Jack Fincham will also feature on the undercard after working with trainer Ben Davison, while another Love Island contestant, AJ Bunker, will take on ring girl Carla Jade.
All eyes will be on the main event between Ford and Gharibi, who have repeatedly traded threats ahead of the fight.
“I just want to smash his head in,” Ford told The Mirror.
“It won't give me any sense of achievement or pride to win, because I genuinely don't think he will bring anything to the table that will allow me to be proud of myself.
“This is not a sporting event, you can't have an event with someone who looks like that. That's not a sportsman at all.
“This fight is purely for me to shut him and the other 200,000 fans of his. Once it is done it allows me to move forward.”
Featured Image Credit: Alamy & Instagram: MartynFordOfficial & SajadGharibiOfficialTopics: Boxing, Heavyweight Boxing, Patrice Evra, Manchester United, France, Football
Rory O'Callaghan