Rio Ferdinand steps up intensity ahead of boxing debut as former Manchester United defender performs speed ball exercises with trainer Richie Woodhall

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Rio Ferdinand has stepped up his preparations ahead of his boxing debut by undertaking an intense workout.

Former Manchester United defender Ferdinand plans to step into the ring for the first time in February after announcing a switch to the sport back in September last year.

And ahead of his anticipated debut, Ferdinand let his fans know what level he is currently working at by posting a video on Instagram of himself performing some difficult boxing exercises with his trainer Richie Woodhall. 

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Ex-Man United star Rio Ferdinand posted a video onto Instagram of his latest boxing workout 

Former defender Ferdinand plans to step into the boxing ring for the first time in February

The 39-year-old, who retired in 2015 and now works as a BT Sport pundit, was filmed initially landing some punches on a tiny unpredictable moving ball, which comes at him from plenty of different angles. 

Woodhall, a former WBC super middleweight champion, said: 'This basically is an exercise that helps with accuracy and timing. 

'It comes at all different angles as you'll see, he's got to concentrate basically, it's a small target so it's accuracy in timing in his boxing stance.'

Ferdinand was filmed trying to land punches on a tiny unpredictable moving ball in the video

39-year-old Ferdinand had to concentrate as the ball came at him at all different angles 

The ex-England international then moves on to landing punches on a fast-moving speed ball, with Ferdinand admitting that he couldn't get to grips with.

Ferdinand said: 'I've found that probably the hardest in terms of getting something wrong consistently. I've only done it a couple of times but I find it really, really difficult it's a moving target. 

'Normally I'm hitting a set of pads or Richie's moving around a little bit but that is very, very quick. Probably there's no human on the planet going to be that quick.'

Trainer Richie Woodhall is getting Ferdinand into shape ahead of his anticipated debut

He was then seen landing punches on a speed ball, which he described as 'really difficult'