Ex-amateur boxer Stanley "Screamer" Tshabalala says it came as no shock to him when former England and Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand announced recently that he is joining the professional boxing ranks.

Tshabalala boxed during the era of Joe "Axe Killer" Ngidi, Levi "Golden Boy" Madi, Eric "Junior Hank" Mahlo and Anthony "Qash" Sithole. His career was cut short when his mother advised him to focus on football because he always came home with swollen lips.

"You may find that Rio always trained as a boxer but was a footballer outside," Tshabalala told Sunday World.

"If you look at his physique, you can tell that the man has been training hard for quite some time. It is not something that he dreamed of one night.

"I think this is good for boxing that these successful sports people join the sport because their inclusion will in a way revive that interest in boxing."

Ferdinand's former teammate Wayne Rooney boxed until he was 15 years old, while former Sheffield United midfielder Curtis Woodhouse, a former British junior welterweight champion, will be in action again on November 25.

Ghanaian international footballer Asamoah Gyan has been a promoter back home since 2012.

Tshabalala, Pirates and Absa Premiership chairman Irvin Khoza, Jomo "Troublemaker" Sono, politicians Paul Mashatile, Mondli Gungubele and unionist Zwelinzima Vavi are big boxing followers.

Khoza was involved in organising a fundraiser event for then ailing legendary boxer Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala in 2011.

The six-bout tournament was staged jointly with Golden Gloves boss Rodney Berman, Imtiaz Patel of SuperSport and the Peermont group which owns Emperors Palace.

BSA chairwoman Muditambi Ravele said: "Boxing is becoming popular. I honestly think with Rio, New Zealand rugby star Sonny Bill Williams and MMA champ Connor McGregor coming to boxing, it will revive the interest in our sport."