Joey Essex 'Confident and Excited' for Boxing Debut

Reality TV star Joey Essex is set to make his boxing debut on August 30 against Portuguese influencer Numeiro. The 35-year-old, who rose to fame on The Only Way is Essex, is eager to showcase a different side of himself in the ring.

Essex has been training rigorously with his uncle and professional coach, Tony Sims, who has trained world-class fighters like Antony Joshua and Ricky Burns.

"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," Essex said.

A New Challenge

Essex has always been interested in boxing, having grown up in a family with a strong connection to the sport. His father was a former boxer, and his uncle, Tony Sims, has nearly three decades of experience in training fighters.

"It was only a matter of time before I stepped into the ring," Essex remarked. "With my TV work, there's never been a gap where it's fitted, but I feel ready and confident."

From Reality TV to the Ring

After his stint on The Only Way is Essex, Joey Essex became a familiar face on various reality TV shows, including Splash!, The Jump, and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. He also appeared in a BBC Three documentary that reflected on the aftermath of his mother's suicide when he was a child.

"With all these shows, I always put 100% in – I put myself through pain and discipline," Essex said. "This [boxing] is just another level of grit and discipline."

Training with Tony Sims

Training with his uncle has been a rigorous experience for Essex. He mentioned that he is treated the same way as all the other boxers at the gym in Essex, with no special treatment.

"I'm really enjoying it. You get to a point where you look forward to sparring, to getting punched in the face," Essex said. "The closer we get to the fight, the more confident and excited I am getting."

Looking Ahead

Essex believes that this is his time to shine as an athlete.

"I believe in myself as a person. I feel I should have been an athlete, and this is my time," he said.

Follow Joey Essex's journey on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates on his boxing debut.

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