West Ham United star Declan Rice was spotted enjoying his downtime by attending Anthony Joshua’s title defence against Kubrat Pulev on Saturday night.
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Rice put in another man of the match performance in West Ham’s impressive win over Leeds on Friday night.
Rice pictured with Joshua and Mayweather after title defence
As with West Ham’s match against Manchester United last week, fans were allowed to attend the event and Rice was among them.
And the Hammers hero was spotted by the Sky Sports cameras at the SSE Arena cheering on Joshua.
After the fight, which Joshua won in the ninth round, Rice was pictured with the champ and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in the dressing room.
West Ham fans loved the photograph.
Some quipped the picture showed the Greatest Of All Time alongside Joshua and Mayweather.
‘Would be just our luck’ Hammers fans fear losing Rice to positive Covid test
But many others voiced fears that it would be just West Ham’s luck to lose Rice to a positive Covid test ahead of big London derbies against Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
Rice was pictured in a mask while in the crowd. But neither Rice, Joshua or Mayweather had masks on in the backstage picture.
And fans fear that rising Covid cases in London could mean their midfield enforcer might have been exposed to the virus in the arena.
Of course that risk is prevalent in everyday life. Rice was not breaking any rules by attending the event. And he is more than entitled to enjoy himself.
West Ham fans should not be overly concerned. Like football, boxing has to have stringent Covid testing in place for all involved.
Rice is regularly tested by West Ham as per Premier League rules. And it is the same for Joshua, Mayweather and all those allowed backstage.
West Ham’s worry comes from a lack of foresight by the club’s unpopular co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold in the transfer market.
Fear comes from lack of planning by owners in transfer market
It has been obvious for some time that the Hammers desperately need another central midfielder.
West Ham have no cover for Rice and Tomas Soucek beyond ageing captain Mark Noble.
Robert Snodgrass can play centrally if needed and so can Pablo Fornals.
But none of the trio have an ounce of pace or power between them.
West Ham take on Palace at the London Stadium on Wednesday night.
David Moyes’s side then make the short trip to Stamford Bridge next Monday night to face Chelsea, club constantly linked with Rice.
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