Joey Essex could turn pro to join MisFits
Casinos.com has the latest odds on who reality TV star Joey Essex could fight on his professional boxing debut, with the top contender being Tommy Fury.
Despite being known as a reality TV star, 34-year-old Joey Essex has boxing in his blood. His father boxed and his uncle is top trainer Tony Sims, who trains Conor Benn and Joe Cordina in his Brentwood gym, as well as Anthony Joshua and John Ryder in the past too.
Tony Sims told SunSport, “He did want to fight when he was about 15, he used to come down the gym to watch all the pros train.
“He’d say, ‘I wanna fight!’, and I said, ‘Listen, you don’t wanna fight mate. You’ve got more money to earn outside of the ring than inside the ring.”
He added, “He’s a lovely boy and he’s done well in his career outside of boxing, he didn’t need to box.“
After gaining fame on The Only Way Is Essex and most recently appearing on Love Island, Joey Essex is reportedly in discussions with Misfits Boxing, the crossover boxing promotion founded by YouTuber KSI, to make his debut fight a reality.
Joey’s debut fight is expected to take place in Qatar this November, with an estimated £1 million payday on the line. If successful, this could be the start of a whole new chapter in Joey’s career.
As he gears up for his first fight, fans and media alike will be eagerly watching to see who will be the first to challenge the reality TV star.
Sims confirmed that Essex will be able to handle his own in the ring, “He does a little bit [of boxing training], he comes down the gym now and then.
“Funnily enough, the year before last, we were in L.A. training at Robert Garcia’s gym, we had Conor Benn and a few of the boys out there sparring. And Joey was out there working himself, he ended up coming and staying with me and the boys for a week and trained with us.
“He did all the running, sprints with them and he was on par. He loves training, he’s in good shape.”
Mams Taylor, the co-founder of Misfits Boxing, confirmed that Joey is serious about making his boxing debut and is excited to see him step into the ring, stating, “I’ve got a list of potential fighters for Joey, and we’re going to go through it and figure it out,” he said.
Mams added, “Joey’s got family background in boxing so I think he’s excited to get in the ring and we’re excited to have him. Joey’s going to be very committed; we’ve spoken daily for the last few days and he’s really on it.
“If Joey builds up his skills and continues to train hard, we could see some very exciting matchups down the line.”
Odds
Tommy Fury – 4/6: The favourite to take on Joey in his first match, Tommy Fury has the experience and notoriety, making him an ideal candidate for a high-profile showdown. A clash between two former Love Island stars would be sure to draw a huge audience.
KSI – 11/10: Joey Essex has been vocal about his desire to face the YouTuber and Misfits Boxing founder, even suggesting he would “leather” KSI. While this matchup may be highly anticipated, insiders suggest it might be too early for Joey to step into the ring with someone of KSI’s calibre.
Jake Paul – 15/8: Known for his controversial persona and aggressive fighting style, Jake Paul is another possibility. However, a bout with Essex might come a bit later after he’s had a few more fights under his belt.
Deji Olatunji – 2/1: Deji, KSI’s brother and a fellow YouTuber turned boxer, could be a good first opponent for Joey. With similar levels of experience, the odds suggest that this could be a fair fight for Joey’s debut.
Conor Benn – 4/1: As a professional boxer with a strong record, Conor Benn would be a tough test for Joey. However, given Joey’s novice status, this matchup might not be the first on the list.
Wayne Rooney – 16/1: The former England football captain has been linked to boxing for years, and a clash with Joey could draw in sports fans from around the world.
Harry Styles – 33/1: While Harry Styles has reportedly taken up boxing as part of his fitness routine, the idea of seeing him square off against Joey in the ring seems more like a fantasy bout than a serious possibility.
