VIDEO: Wayne Rooney knocked out cold in kitchen boxing match

Wayne Rooney has always been lauded for his tenacious attitude. Even when things aren't going particularly well in front of goal for the Manchester United captain, you can always expect him to battle for every ball and go hard into every challenge.

He's a fighter. Only, off the pitch, he's apparently not a very good one.

The Sun (paywall) has acquired video footage which appears to show Rooney engaging in a sparring match with former teammate, and current Stoke City defender, Phil Bardsley. The newspaper claims the bout took place at Rooney's home in Cheshire back on Feb. 22, when he was in the midst of being handed two days off by manager Louis van Gaal following the Red Devils' 2-1 win over Swansea the day before.

Judging by the preamble above, you can guess how well things went for the English striker. 

After exchanging some light blows and grappling on a few occasions, Bardsley dropped Rooney with a left jab. He could have been acting, but he didn't move.

While the thud of Rooney's limp body crashing to the kitchen floor is more than a little worrisome, he did play the club's following match six days later, scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Sunderland.

No harm, then?