Former Manchester United defender Danny Simpson set to fight YouTuber in Misfits boxing match

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Danny Simpson exhibition boxing match

In an unexpected twist following his recent retirement, former Manchester United defender and Premier League winner Danny Simpson is trying his hands in the ring after agreeing to take part in his first-ever boxing match.

The ex-Man United, QPR, Newcastle United and Leicester City full-back only called time on his playing career after the best part of two decades this July, writing in a statement that he knew it was time to “hang up [his] boots and concentrate on other projects”.

As it turns out, the first of these new projects will be his boxing debut as part of the Misfits exhibition franchise, which has seen a number of celebrities, influencers and ex-athletes take part since the promotion was founded back in 2022.

Set to take place at the 3 Arena in Dublin on 31 August, the upcoming event will mark the official two-year anniversary of Misfits Boxing and its first visit to Ireland.

‘Deen The Great’ will be putting his MFB Lightweight Championship on the line against hometown favourite Dave Fogarty, Sami Hamed will be taking on Jesse Clarke and Danny Simpson’s aforementioned fight against 22-year-old YouTuber Danny Aarons will be making up the latest fight card.

Elsewhere, there are bouts between HS TikkyTokky vs George Fensom and Ben Williams vs Warren Spencer booked, not to mention two cruiserweight quarter-final contests on the night, with both Jake Cornish and Mike Edwards, as well as DTG and Minikon set to lock horns.

X Series 17, which will be broadcast live on DAZN, was also set to see founder KSI take on an ambitious 2v1 match against Slim and Anthony Taylor but he ultimately had to pull out due to injury.

Instead, KSI, who essentially started the whole modern advent of ‘YouTuber boxing’, will be performing as part of a special live concert on the night.

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As for Simpson, his reaction to the announcement was short but sweet, writing on social media: “So it’s official. I’ll be making my boxing debut on the 31st of August in Dublin on the Misfits Boxing card.

“Excited for fight night. Let’s have some fun.”

Gaining some serious traction in the space of just two short years, even the likes of Wayne Rooney have been offered to take part in the growing fight series, so we expect the 37-year-old won’t be the last retired footballer to get involved with Misfits.

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Featured Images — Peter Woodentop (via Flickr)/Manchester Remembers (supplied)