UFC star Pearson offers to fight John Terry
Getty Images
Ross Pearson is Britain's leading featherweight fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Former England captain John Terry has been targeted for a potential charity fight by one of the country's leading mixed martial artists, Ross Pearson.
Terry has found himself at the centre of a media storm over the past week, after the FA opted to strip him of the England captaincy. The Chelsea man has been accused of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, but when his trial date was set for after Euro 2012, the FA decided to act by standing down the skipper. Terry has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The FA's decision continues to dominate the back pages of English newspapers, after England boss Fabio Capello angrily stated that he still considers Terry to be his captain. The Italian now faces a Wednesday meeting with his employers to sort out the disagreement.
Pearson, who is one of England's most successful representatives across fight sports, currently finds himself in contention for a featherweight title shot in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Should he one day achieve his goal of winning UFC gold, he will become the first Briton in history to do so.
The Sunderland-born fighter is convinced Terry should have taken the decision upon himself to stand down as England captain, until he can clear his name at the July trial. And Pearson admits a charity fight against the Chelsea man, in the style of Ricky Gervais' clash with Grant Bovey five years ago, would appeal greatly.
"I think it was the right decision [to strip Terry of the armband], definitely," Pearson told Fighters Only magazine.
"The right approach would have been to stand up, be a man, resign the captaincy while this scandal and investigation is going on and then, if he is cleared, he could take it up again instead of dragging the England captaincy through the mud the way it is now.
"Sometimes you see these charity boxing matches and so on? I think it would be great if the UFC did something like that and I think there would be a LOT of people who would like to see me go up against John Terry if they did. I would soon knock some sense into him.
"Or let me play in one of these charity football matches against him, I'd definitely put a few good tackles in on him and give him a knock or two, see how tough he is then."
For more on Football, visit ESPNsoccernet.com
Whatever Terry is alleged to have said is immaterial we should ALL be allowed the freedom of speech and the right to express ourselves without punitive action whatever we say and whoever it offends.
The right to express ourselves does not extend to terrorism of any sort
(we are having our rights taken away from us in order to be "P.C.").
1. This isnt going to happen.
2. John Terry wouldnt win against Pearson in the octogon/ drunken street brawl might be a different matter.
3. Too many comments on here from complete morons.
4. Perhaps Mr Pearson can fight a wild bear afterwards like will ferrell did in his film semi pro, this will also further his career and further push him into the spotlight.
I now know John terry would win
Ross Pearson is a weedy 8 stone feather weight while John Terry is 6'2'' and 13 stone 10 Lbs light heavyweight but in my experience an unskilled light heavyweight would maul a skilled featherweight
if John terry fell on that weedy twerp he would kill him
sorry Ross but John Terry would be last man standing
so wind in your neck and stick to what you are good at
(Beating up gnomes)
I have the upmost respect for fighters, especially martial art fighters .. But this guy is a fcuking dick!! ... Of course he could knock shlt out of John Terry! .. Terry is a frickin footballer and not a fighter, Pearson couldn't play anywhere near as good as Terry, but he not saying I will offer someone a kick about to make them look a tw.at!
Grow up and stop trying to look "hard" by offering someone a fight who is clearly incapable of taking you on!.. you sound like them dlckhead bouncers, bodybuilders or non-professional boxers who think they are hard taking on non-fighters! .... You fcuking big ars.ewipe!
i totally agree that if john terry had stood down thats like saying im guilty this clown needs to grow up he is doing what j terry is acussed of just a different type if terry is guilty then penalise him not before.
you dont jail a criminal unless he is guilty why should you so why penalise j tery for this till he is found guilty.
if he is found guilty then he needs to be banned from football set an example until then leave him be
