JOEY ESSEX says boxing will give him the chance to KO any suggestion that he is just a “dimwit” from the television.
The reality TV star has become a household name ever since starring on hit ITV series The Only Way is Essex from the age of 20.
Misfits Boxing Joey Essex ahead of his boxing debut[/caption]
Joey facing off with his opponent Numeiro
PA:Press AssociationThe reality TV star joined TOWIE when he was just 20[/caption]
And he has become a lovable face on the box – charming viewers with his down to earth and silly persona.
It’s been a long and wild journey from his days of working in a fish market – a job in which he got the sack.
But despite seemingly being ever present on TV for the past 15 years, Joey feels he has been misunderstood on camera.
And his much-hyped boxing debut on Saturday night will give him the chance to prove there is far more to the 35-year-old than the small screen has shown.
Joey told SunSport: “I feel like this is a perfect journey for me to show a serious side to me. To constantly and continuously show that I’m the real deal.
“I’m not just I’m not just some dimwit on television. Because you won’t be calling me a dimwit when I’m in there and I flatten this fella.”
Joey becomes the latest celebrity star to sign up to Misfits Boxing – the platform co-founded by YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI to host crossover style bouts featuring celebrities, OnlyFans stars, social media influencers and fighters from various disciplines.
The TOWIE legend takes on Portuguese influencer Numeiro on the Misfits 22 undercard in Manchester.
Misfits 22 – All the info
MISFITS boxing is back for an absolutely massive card this weekend.
The a huge event comes from the AO Arena in Manchester, with the night starring a mix of UFC legends, Misfits icons – and two TOWIE stars!
Ring of Thrones, as the night has been dubbed, is headlined by a meeting of two former UFC stars in Darren Till and Luke Rockhold.
Former UFC champ Tony Ferguson is also making his debut for the promotion and puts his legacy on the line against Salt Papi, who has impressed in the ring and won his last three fights by TKO.
A packed night sees reality TV star cousins Joey Essex and Demi Sims make their boxing debuts.
Demi’s dad Tony has trained the likes of Anthony Joshua and Conor Benn and is Matchroom Sport’s head coach.
MMA upstart Dillon Danis is also back on the card, as well as Misfits regulars such as Ty Mitchell, Chase DeMoor and Amir Anderson.
Here’s everything you need to know about the night.
Info
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But Joey is not the bog-standard famous face stepping into the ring for a quick payday and clout – he comes from a boxing background.
His dad Don fought as an amateur while his uncle Tony Sims is an esteemed trainer to the likes of Conor Benn and formerly Anthony Joshua.
The family all met through the sport and working at London’s Billingsgate Fish Market.
Joey said: “My dad was a very good boxer. He used to spar against Tony all the time and that’s how my family met.
“My family met boxing and working down Billingsgate Fish Market where I went on to actually have my first job.”
Joey got the gig as a shop boy through his dad – but lasted just three months.
Don later married Sims’ sister Tina – but she sadly passed away when Joey was just ten – leaving him to grow up faster than any young boy should.
Joey opened up: “From a young age, I had a difficult time, lost someone very close to me and I feel like growing up I was surrounded by just men.
“Especially my family, fighters, everyone’s like, ‘Come on, we’re men, we don’t cry, we’re tough, we’re fighters.’ So I had to be that guy.
“I had to grow up quick and that’s just the way it was.”
Instagram / terrybloomfieldphotosJoey got his first job at Billingsgate Fish Market[/caption]
SuppliedJoey’s dad Don, striking a remarkable resemblance to his son, was also a boxer[/caption]
CollectJoey’s mum Tina sadly passed away when he was ten[/caption]
SunSportJoey with his uncle and trainer Tony Sims[/caption]
He continued: “I grew up as a normal boy I had all my friends and I had normal life but in the back of my head, I was always had this mentality of like, ‘You’re gonna be alright, you’re gonna be good, you can do this, you’re tough. Everything’s gonna be right no matter regardless.’
“I had all these thoughts of no matter what happens, I’m gonna be good.”
Joey – who suffers from dyslexia – remembers struggling at school but fighting through to his exams despite feeling isolated.
He said: “I really pushed myself as much as I could but I was in separate classes to do GCSEs. I had teachers sitting next to me in every lesson.
“I was the only student in school to have someone sitting next to me in every single lesson, as well as a teacher in front of me. So I felt like the odd one out.
“I was like, ‘Why am I getting help?’ But that taught me as well, I knew I had it hard throughout school and I just had to man up real quick when I left school and that’s what I did.”
Despite being sacked by the fish market, Joey bounced back by landing a spot on TOWIE from 2011.
Brian Roberts – The SunJoey and Amy Willerton, who he met on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2013[/caption]
PAHe starred on SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2020[/caption]
GettyJoey Essex was a contestant on Dancing On Ice in 2023 alongside pro Vanessa Bauer[/caption]
GettyJoey with ex-Jessy Potts who he met on Love Island[/caption]
And he has since become a TV regular by starring in dozens of shows both in the UK and overseas with several celeb romances to go with it.
Joey has tried several gigs in an attempt to reveal his true self – away from his ditsy character.
But it was boxing – which was always on his doorstep – which is allowing him to finally be himself.
He said: “Even till now, people see this persona of Joey Essex, like ‘He’s so silly, he’s so stupid.’ But people don’t really know me.
“People don’t really know what I’m like and what I’m about. That’s the reason why I’m doing this.”
Joey has turned down TV roles and appearances to focus on boxing – training for months with his uncle Tony and cousin Demi – also making her debut.
And he said: “I’m very confident, I’m a very confident person anyway, but in this, I just, I just feel like I’m just unstoppable.”
Joey hopes to become the new face of Misfits – marking the latest chapter in his wild and storied life.
He said: “I’m here to take over.”
GettyJoey Essex facing off with opponent Numeiro[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
