By Elliot Foster

Rio Ferdinand has expressed his dismay after being refused a professional boxing licence.

The former England and Manchester United defender retired from football in 2015 and had planned to launch an assault on the the sport in a career change.

But those plans were canned after the British Boxing Board of Control said they would not be reviewing his application following its rejection.

"It is with a heavy heart that I am hanging up my gloves," Ferdinand, 39, said in a statement published on his official Facebook page.

"To not be given the chance to demonstrate my ability to the BBBofC through the standard assessment afforded to others is hard to take.”

Ferdinand had aimed, under the tutelage of former WBC world champion Richie Woodhall, to “win a belt”, as part of the ‘Defender To Contender’ challenge hosted by betting company Betfair.

He added: ”Boxing is a physically tough, demanding and dangerous sport. I always gave it my utmost respect and never underestimated how difficult it would be.

"It's important to approach everything with success in mind, and to give it your all, but sometimes things work against you.”

IN OTHER NEWS: The former British light-heavyweight champion was last in action in February.

Burton, who outpointed Josip Perkovic in Manchester, exclusively live on Sky Sports, will fight on the same platform again on June 16.

He has been added to the undercard of Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing’s show at the Metro Radio Arena.

And the 29-year-old will get the chance to showcase his skills in Newcastle for the second time, after first fighting at the same venue back in April 2015, when he ticks over on a card co-headlined by Lewis Ritson and Josh Kelly.

Undefeated lightweight Ritson will be his British crown for the third time against mandatory challenger Paul Hyland Jr. in the main attraction and WBA International welterweight champion Kelly will challenge for his first major title when he takes on Kris George of Australia for the Commonwealth crown.

Elsewhere, Darlington’s Stuart Hall will challenge Gavin McDonnell for the WBC International title at super-bantamweight.

Arfan Iqbal will fight Simon Vallily in a rescheduled defence of his English cruiserweight title and South Shields’ Anthony Nelson will fight for the second time in seven weeks after a two-year layoff when he takes on former world title challenger Charlie Edwards for the vacant WBA Continental super-flyweight title.

Meanwhile, promoter Hearn has revealed recently that he would “actively pursue” the possibility of adding the second fight between Glenn Foot, the Commonwealth super-lightweight titlist, and Josh Leather, which has been mandated for the vacant British title relinquished by Jack Catterall, to the card.