Boxing heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, has revealed that boxing is at risk of losing future stars due to lack of financial support.
Impacted by COVID-19, Joshua highlights the issues affecting grassroots boxing and calls for support from the government so as to prevent the loss of tomorrow’s stars, after a number of amateur gyms were forced to shut through the lockdown.
Joshua who recently defeated Kubrat Pulev to retain his WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles made a substantial financial donation to clubs via the three home nations federations.
Joshua said: “Boxing helped shape me, both physically and mentally. It is not secret that without boxing and the family created around my amateur gym, my life could have been very different.
“The sport has given me a lot and I want to help highlight the issues affecting grassroots clubs and do what I can to keep the lights on for those most in need.
“I am not using this as an opportunity to criticise government for its lack of funding towards boxing – these are unprecedented times – however, I would like to use my platform to respectfully ask them to rethink their stance.
“Without support, we will lose community hubs and potentially the stars of tomorrow.”
The funding will be distributed to clubs via England Boxing, Welsh Boxing and Boxing Scotland, whose chairman Kevin Bell said: “It is to Anthony’s great credit that he recognises the impact of COVID-19 on amateur boxing, from loss of training among boxers to the inability to host shows that sustain clubs financially.
“It is also the hallmark of a true world and Olympic champion that he has proactively sought to help amateur boxing – which he acknowledges played a significant role in his career – during this ongoing period of uncertainty.”
Joshua made a name for himself having come through amateur boxing before representing England at the 2011 World Championships in the super-heavyweight division, winning a silver medal; he also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics, winning gold.
