Ferguson had developed a reputation as being a hardman during his career
The 53-year-old admitted coming unstuck against a current England player
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By MICHAEL PAVITT
Published: 07:28 EDT, 9 June 2025 | Updated: 07:28 EDT, 9 June 2025
Duncan Ferguson has admitted he was 'battered' by a current England international in a boxing match during his time at Everton.
Ferguson played over 270 times for Everton during two separate spells at Goodison Park, first between 1994 and 1998 and later between 2000 and 2006.
The former forward had established a reputation as a hardman during his playing career, having been sent off on nine occasions.
Ferguson was sent to prison for three months in 1994 following an on-field assault of Raith Rovers' John McStay when he played for Rangers.
He also famously confronted burglars on two occasions at his home in 2001 and 2003. One of the burglars in 2001 required a three-day stay in hospital following their confrontation with Ferguson.
Despite his fearsome reputation, Ferguson revealed in his autobiography 'Big Dunc: The Upfront Autobiography', that a current England star got the better of him in a training ground boxing match.
Duncan Ferguson has revealed he fought a current England star in a boxing match at training
Ferguson said he tried to convince Anthony Gordon to stop boxing during his time at Everton
Ferguson, who handed Gordon his debut as interim manager, claimed the star 'battered him'
Ferguson explained he had attempted to convince Anthony Gordon to stop boxing, after hearing the winger had been sparring in gyms in Liverpool in the early stages of his career.
As part of his efforts to dissuade Gordon, Ferguson warned him that he would 'get hurt' if he continued to spar.
Having handed Gordon his Everton debut in a Europa League tie during an interim spell as manager in 2019, Ferguson had then faced the youngster during a boxing match at Everton's Finch Farm training ground.
'I made sure Gordon got his debut at Limassol, I then gave Anthony his second game against Leicester,' Ferguson wrote.
'I loved his appetite to improve, he wanted to learn and practice, practice, practice.
'He was as fit as a fiddle and took diet seriously but was still going to different boxing gyms and sparring. "You have to stop," I told Anthony, "You can't go to them, you'll get hurt".
'He battered me once in the Finch Farm gym. I had a pair of boxing gloves on, he didn't. And I didn't do it again. Anthony's a bright lad, knows what he wants and is dedicated and lightning quick.'
Gordon has previously claimed boxing has helped to improve his game, suggesting he began to enjoy contact from defenders and could hold them off easier.
Gordon has previously claimed boxing had helped him to improve and hold off defenders
He had reportedly asked about boxing trainers in the Newcastle area when he joined in a £45million move in 2023, but ultimately decided against continuing sparring in gyms.
Speaking to the BBC last year, Gordon suggested his roots in Liverpool had encouraged his love of boxing, with fighters like Tony Bellew, Liam and Callum Smith coming from the city.
'I think everyone in Liverpool likes boxing,' Gordon said. 'I think every kid just finds themselves in the local boxing club.
'You grow up watching it as well. On the pitch, I think it makes me more aggressive, play with more tenacity.
'Before I started [boxing], I was down a lot. I would get pushed off the ball a lot.
'And then when I started doing it, it brought out a different side of me, aggression, and just wanting to win, more desire in those battles.'
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