Roy Keane vs Micah Richards: Heavyweight boxer predicts which pundit would win in a fight

Sky Sports television pundits Roy Keane (L) and Micah Richards look on before the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on October 3, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Roy Keane and Micah Richards are two heavyweights of the punditry world, but what would happen if they swapped their microphones for boxing gloves and stepped into the ring?

While we may never find out the answer to that question, due to the 17-year age difference and clear camaraderie the pair share, heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has tried his best to predict who would win in a fight between the pair. 

Pitting the former Manchester United captain with the defender who burst onto the scene with Manchester City nearly 20 years ago, Joshua perhaps makes a surprise admission over who he's backing.

Roy Keane vs Micah Richards pictured during the FA Cup tie between Sunderland and Newcastle in January 2024.

A hypothetical fight between Roy Keane and Micah Richards has been predicted  (Image credit: Getty Images)

"It's a great question," Joshua said. "Let's look at the tale of the tape, shall we? You've got Micah Richards, a big guy who looks like a natural heavyweight and is solid. But, from a point of view where we're talking about Roy Keane: the one and only, the man that's about that smoke, about that life. 

"I think Keane has a bit of amateur experience as well. If I were to toss a coin, I'd say it would probably land on Micah, but the coin would bounce and flips a few times before it'd eventually end up on Roy Keane. So, I think Roy would do the job."

Richards didn't quite agree with Joshua, however, arguing that his weight advantage makes him clear favourite in the scrap. 

Roy Keane vs Micah Richards Anthony Joshua during a Media Day event ahead of his fight on Friday night on March 3, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing via Getty Images)

Joshua just backs Keane to get the job done  (Image credit: Getty Images)

"Hold on," Richards said in response, "how much do you weigh, Roy? I'm 16-and-a-half stone - proper heavyweight. I'd eat you for lunch!"

Keane also put Richards as favourite in the boxing Manchester derby.

"I wish I would believe what he was saying there," Keane said. "I think Micah would take me very, very easily. I'm about 12-and-a-half stone. You'd be favourite, Micah." 

The pair agreed they'd "take a draw" if it came down to it, though, clearly not wanting to find out the damage they could potentially cause each other. 

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Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.