Wayne Bridge has announced his decision to pull out of his fight with KSI just two days after it was announced, claiming that the YouTube star had ‘crossed a line’.
The former Chelsea defender, 44, was set to fight KSI in Manchester on March 29 but he announced his withdrawal from the event in a statement posted on Monday.
Bridge’s decision came after the social media sensation aimed a jibe at him after Misfits Boxing 20 on Saturday night, in relation to his ex-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel’s alleged affair with John Terry.
Away from the affair scandal that became a hot topic once again following KSI’s unexpected outburst, Bridge has led a very different life since hanging up his boots in 2014.
After separating from Perroncel in 2009, Wayne married singer Frankie Sandford – who found fame in pop group The Saturdays – in 2014.
The couple have two sons together, Parker, born in 2013, and Carter, born in 2015.
After separating from Perroncel in 2009, Wayne married singer Frankie Sandford – who found fame in pop group The Saturdays – in 2014
The couple have two sons together, Parker, born in 2013, and Carter, born in 2015
Following KSI’s tirade aimed at Wayne, Frankie, who has openly admitted to struggling with depression, sharing a series of pictures to remind herself how hard she has been working in relation to both her mental and physical health.
Posting to Instagram, she said: ‘Today is blue Monday so I’m reminding myself of everything I’ve been working on’.
Away from the spotlight of football, Wayne has also chosen to distance himself from previous friends in the sport – none more so than Terry, who he was even neighbours with at one point in a gated community in Surrey while the pair played for Chelsea.
In the wake of the alleged scandal involving Terry and his ex-girlfriend, Bridge ignored calls – from senior figures in the Manchester City dressing room he was a part of at the time – to consider a U-turn on international retirement.
At the time, Terry was England captain, but was stripped of the armband by then-Three Lions manager Fabio Cappello after news of the alleged affair emerged.
Fast-forward to 2016, and Bridge was able to become a surprise hit with television audiences across the nation after earning cult-hero status thanks to his appearance on the 16th series of reality show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Bridge was able to enjoy a deep run in the jungle that saw him finish in fifth place overall as the ninth person to be eliminated from the show – which was eventually won by Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt.
Frankie would also later take part, finishing in third place on Series 21 of the UK edition of the show, which was won by actor Danny Miller.
Fast-forward to 2016, and Bridge was able to become a surprise hit with television audiences across the nation after earning cult-hero status thanks to his appearance on the 16th series of reality show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!
Bridge is also known to be an avid poker player, a hobby he took up after his friends began playing games each month at his home.
In an interview with 888poker in 2017, Bridge described his style of play as ‘rash’, adding that he does not take matters too seriously when at the table.
He added: ‘I usually just play with my mates for the get-together and laugh. As soon as I’ve had a couple of beers I’m pretty kamikaze.’
Bridge also gave an interesting comment when asked which former footballers he would love to play poker with.
He continued: ‘I’m not sure what his poker face would be like but I’d love to see Craig Bellamy play.
‘His talk around the table would be great and he’d get into people’s heads. Also just for the pure banter Jimmy Bullard would be entertaining.’
