Ex-Premier League star suffers brutal defeat during boxing debut

Fans have become used to seeing former Premier League stars popping up with strange post-football careers once they retire; however, one individual will wish that he were not so recognisable from his time in the English top flight after suffering a humbling defeat in his boxing debut.

Several footballers are keen boxers due to the benefits of the sport when it comes to training, and this has been evidenced with the likes of James McClean and Wayne Rooney.

The England international has spoken previously about how he would love to square off with Jonathan Ross in the ring, while the Derry City star has joined Michael Conlan at Dublin's 3Arena on September 5, 2025.

Now, former Aston Villa star Ross McCormack has taken his first steps in boxing, but it will be a night he would want to forget as he squared off with former Leeds United teammate Matt Kilgallon.

McCormack suffered a first-round knock-out at the ‘A Night To Remember II’ event organised by Pro Project Promotions.

The 39-year-old, who retired in 2024, did not have a good night in the ring, as his defeat came swiftly as he attempted to land a right hand on his opponent, but Kilgallon evaded it before responding with a heavy left hook that floored the Scot.

McCormack was then slumped in the corner of the ring and failed to beat the referee's count, as reported by the Daily Mail, but recovered to embrace his former teammate at the end of the fight following his defeat.

The Scot was brought back down to earth with this knockout and may consider it a low point in his athletic career after a successful footballing career in which he starred at Leeds for four seasons in the Championship before an £11 million deal to move to Fulham.

He would continue to impress at the London club before moving to Aston Villa in 2016, where he would spend three seasons on their books.

Football fans will be brought down memory lane by the other names on the card, with one bout witnessing Lee Trundle beat ex-Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo in Liverpool.

Others involved in the event included Adam Hammill, former Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and retired midfielder Steve Jennings.

The events are organised by ex-Arsenal and Hibs goalkeeper Graham Stack, and the proceeds go to charity, with thousands of pounds being raised.