Joe Cole: 'I watch more fights in the ring than football matches'

West Ham United midfielder Joe Cole has admitted that he watches more boxing bouts than football matches.

The 31-year-old, who used to have some sparring sessions in the ring in his younger years, has claimed that teammate Mark Noble "fancies himself" as a boxer.

"I messed around as a kid down the local club," the Daily Mail quotes Cole as saying. "I had a couple of spars but didn't like getting hit! I might do some White Collar.

"Mark Noble is good on the pads. He fancies himself as a bit of a fighter so that could be a good match-up! I watch more boxing than football. I go as often as I can. When I was out for a year [at Chelsea], I was at every show."

Cole, who recently claimed that he made a mistake signing for Liverpool in 2010, will watch former European champion Darren Barker take on Simone Rotolo at Wembley Arena this Saturday.