Love Island and TOWIE star Joey Essex has said he is ‘confident and excited’ to make his boxing debut this weekend as he prepares to get in the ring
Joey Essex has showed off a major body transformation ahead of his boxing debut this weekend. The Love Island star is getting in the ring with Portuguese influencer Numeiro on Saturday (August 30). The 35-year-old TOWIE legend said he is “confident and excited” to show a different side of himself.
He’s the latest famous face to head into the ring after the likes of social media influencers KSI and Logan Paul.
To get in shape, the Essex lad has been training with his uncle Tony Sims, who is a professional coach.
He said he’s always looked up to his uncle and also his dad, who is a former boxer.
Joey said via the BBC: “You’re going to see me get in the ring with someone up for a fight, and so am I – I’m ready to show the world what I’m about.”
He went on: “It was only a matter of time before I stepped into the ring.
“With my TV work, there’s never been a gap where it’s fitted, but I feel ready and confident.”
Joey has turned his hand to a number of athletic shows, including Splash!, which was diving, The Jump, which was winter sports, and the military-style Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
He said: “With all these shows, I always put 100% in – I put myself through pain and discipline.
“This is just another level of grit and discipline.
“A lot of people know me as being silly and joking around, [but in the gym] I like to keep it serious.”
Joey told his uncle that he wanted to be treated the same as any other boxer he might coach, meaning he couldn’t “moan or fuss”.
Tony has trained world title fighters such as Antony Joshua and Ricky Burns.
He said Joey was a hard worker and “more than capable of going four rounds” in his fight against Numeiro this weekend in Manchester.
Joey added: “I’m really enjoying it. You get to a point where you look forward to sparring, to getting punched in the face.
“The closer we get to the fight, the more confident and excited I am getting.
“I believe in myself as a person. I feel I should have been an athlete, and this is my time.”
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