Former fighter turned boxing analyst Paule Malignaggi has claimed that former English footballer Wayne Rooney can be a top boxer.
It has emerged over the past few days that Rooney had been in talks to make his boxing debut, however, the former Manchester United star has instead decided to continue his career in football management.
When asked in an interview with Lord Ping about how Rooney would fare as a professional boxer, Malignaggi believes the 38-year-old has all necessary skills to give a credible account of himself.
"I don't think it's a bad idea, Wayne was always a physical forward like a Christian Vieri type. I think Rooney has the physicality and the skills, he was a very strong and a tremendous athlete," Malignaggi said.
"He's a big boxing fan, when I met him he knew who I was, which threw me off. I'm interested in him boxing.
"There are certain guys in football who might be able to do some fighting; Wayne Rooney, Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, I'm on board with it."
Malignaggi is not the only voice in the world of boxing to give his thoughts on Rooney's possible boxing debut, promoter Eddie Hearn has also named a potential venue and first opponent for Rooney if he does decide to lace up the gloves.
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