Wayne Rooney has called out former Premier League rival Jamie Carragher for a boxing match. The challenge was issued during a visit to Croxteth Amateur Boxing Club, a place Rooney frequented in his youth and which was founded by his uncle, Richie Rooney.

Rooney, the Manchester United legend, was at the club as part of Queensbury Promotions' event to spotlight local fighters Jack Turner and Oliver Jones. Stepping into the ring, Rooney expressed his desire for a boxing encounter with Carragher.

"I'd f***ing love to get Carragher in the ring, so you can tell him," Rooney stated before directly addressing the camera: "Carra, I would love to get you in the ring."

Beyond the personal challenge, Rooney spoke about his appreciation for boxing, a sport he believes was instrumental in his development as a footballer. "I always think being able to play for Everton at 16, boxing was a big part of that. It helped my legs grow, my bum grow. You need that for your power," he explained.

This is not the first time Rooney has toyed with the idea of participating in a boxing match. Approximately two years prior, he mentioned on the "Stick to Football" podcast, hosted by Gary Neville, that he had received multiple offers from influencer boxing promotions like Misfits. At that time, Rooney indicated his priority was returning to football management, though he did not rule out a future fight.

Rooney's past experiences with informal sparring include a notable incident in 2015 with then-teammate Phil Bardsley. The playful session in Rooney's kitchen famously ended with Rooney being knocked down. He later recreated the moment in a goal celebration against Tottenham.

Bardsley recalled the event, describing it as a lighthearted exchange that escalated. "He's throwing a few bombs and obviously he's a big lad, isn't he? Strong. We're exchanging blows – the Crocky (Croxteth) kid and the Salford kid, there's no holding back!" Bardsley said. "He just walked into a jab. He was only out for a couple of seconds but we were all panicking."

Rooney has continued to foster a love for boxing within his family, gifting his four sons, including Manchester United youth player Kai, a personalized boxing room in their home gym for Christmas in 2023.