Sonia Watson & Laura Devlin
BBC News, Essex
BBC
Joey Essex said he should have been an athlete
Reality TV star Joey Essex says he is “confident and excited” and keen to show another side of him as he prepares for his boxing debut.
The 35-year-old, who shot to fame on The Only Way is Essex, is the latest celebrity to take on crossover boxing, made famous by YouTubers – and novice fighters – KSI and Logan Paul.
Essex has been in training with his uncle and professional coach Tony Sims ahead of his first fight with Portuguese influencer Numeiro on 30 August.
“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 said.
Joey Essex became known for the word ‘reem’ – meaning ‘good’ – which has since entered the Cambridge Dictionary
Essex, who grew up in Chigwell, said he had always been interested in the sport and looked up to his uncle and his dad, a former boxer.
“It was only a matter of time before I stepped into the ring,” he said.
“With my TV work, there’s never been a gap where it’s fitted, but I feel ready and confident.”
After Towie, Essex became a well-known face on the reality TV circuit, including sports and endurance-based shows Splash! (diving), The Jump (winter sports) – which he won – and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins (quasi-military training).
He also showed a more serious side in a BBC Three documentary which reflected on the aftermath of his mother taking her own life when he was a child.
“With all these shows, I always put 100% in – I put myself through pain and discipline,” he said.
“This [boxing] 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.”
Action Images/Reuters
Conor Benn (left) is among those trained by Tony Sims (second left), pictured with his father, Nigel Benn, and promoter Eddie Hearn (right)
Training with his uncle meant he could not “moan or fuss”, and he said he was treated the same way as all the other boxers at the gym in Essex.
Sims, who has almost three decades of experience, is used to training world title fighters, including Antony Joshua and Ricky Burns.
He said his nephew was a hard worker and would be “more than capable of going four rounds” when he meets Numeiro in Manchester.
“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.
“I believe in myself as a person. I feel I should have been an athlete, and this is my time.”
