BOXING champion Anthony Joshua has given his backing to The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards — insisting brave NHS staff are Britain’s true “heroes”.
The fighter, 30, knows first hand the devastation of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, having lost close friends from his gym to the disease.
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Boxing champ Anthony Joshua hails our NHS heroes as ‘the true superstars’Credit: BackGrid
And today the star pays tribute to frontline medical staff — from senior doctors and nurses to hospital porters — who have risked their lives to help those who need it most in the midst of the crisis.
He said: “I’m completely behind these awards and I’d love to help present something to some of these incredibly deserving health workers — it’s time these people were recognised as the true heroes.
“For many people at home this has been quite a relaxing period.
“You’re sheltered from what is going on, and then you tune in to watch the news and see what it’s actually like on the front line for the NHS.
“They are my heroes right now, and they are under-appreciated and under-valued.”
AJ says it’s time NHS staff were recognised as ‘the true heroes’Credit: London News Pictures
The Sun’s awards, planned for later this year, will see readers able to nominate NHS workers for recognition at a glittering celebration.
And Anthony, who will be one of the judges, hopes the event can help to highlight the wide diversity in the organisation’s ranks — admitting he is disappointed that depictions of healthcare staff are often exclusively white.
He said: “This has been a historic period, and I think it’s important that every single face is remembered — whatever race.
“I’ve been asking myself how I can campaign as an Afro-Caribbean man to make sure that side of the story is included too.
“Many black, mixed race and Asian people have lost their lives, and nobody should be forgotten about in this painful period. Diversity makes Britain what it is.”
1st coach was killed by Covid
AJ told on Friday how Covid-19 claimed the life of his first boxing coach.
Colin Webster, a trainer in Finchley, North London, died last month.
He was among the first to nurture AJ’s talents before his rise to the top. Anthony said: “He was a real old school boxing trainer type, no nonsense but the loveliest guy when we were younger.
“I would have been about 18 and Colin used to train fighters at the gym then work the doors of the nightclub in the evenings.
“We used to walk up there with a bit of a swagger and Colin let us through. It’s tragic.”
HELP FOR HOMETOWN HOSPITAL
The star also remains fiercely protective of his home town Watford and has already been keen to do his bit by donating huge quantities of vital supplies to staff at Watford General Hospital.
He explains: “It’s difficult sometimes to know what’s the right thing to do. If I buy a flash car or a flash watch everyone is fine with that, but if you’re seen to be giving to charity or helping the community people question your motives.
“So my mentality was just to go with my instinct what felt right and for me that was doing something to help Watford General, which is close to my heart, I was born there, and something to recognise my Nigerian heritage.
“Luckily we’ve got a lot of partners, including Under Armour.
“So when we spoke to Watford General they said there’s actually things they need like sleeping gear for people that are staying overnight, face-visors, and even simple things like comfortable footwear.
“So they donated a load of products to Watford General. That’s my town. I want to push globally in terms of my reach and be dominant, but where my heart is is still in my estate and people locally know that. It was a nice thing to be able to do.”
The British heavyweight poses with his OBE in 2018Credit: Getty – Pool
Despite his youth, Anthony is already planning for life when he leaves the ring — and hopes charity work could become a major part of his future.
Inspired by former superstars of the sport, AJ is well aware his chances of longevity will rely on a strong business plan to remain “relevant”. He said: “It’s interesting to think about the future — but I’ve always said to myself that boxing isn’t going to be all of who I am.
“It’s a very significant part of my life, of course, but I know that will end one day.
“This isn’t the start of my career, it’s towards the end of my career, and I have to start thinking of the future as well as staying on the top of my game so that when I have to stop fighting I have a plan in place which means I’m not going to crumble with it and I’m still going to be relevant.
Basics all you need
AJ SAYS boxing was his only education — and he’s still studying it.
He said: “That’s why I love boxing. Out of all the sports you do not need much. All I needed was a pair of shorts, trainers, and then you can shadow box.
“I used to watch Mike Tyson a lot and try his moves in the garden.
“Go to the park, shadow box, go running, listen to a bit of Rocky music, get your mind in the element of a boxer and then you’re good to go.”
“I have plans to develop myself as a businessman, because there are far too many stories of boxers who have come in the game very successful in boxing but they’ve never made the transition as a successful businessman afterwards.
“So over the next eight years I’m going to steadily make a transition, not only as a boxer, but as a well-respected individual, in business and also as a philanthropist. I’m thinking about giving back and talking about different causes I will stand for — because at the moment nobody really cares if I do some charity work or help a certain community, they just want to know when I’m knocking out Tyson Fury.
“So this has to be a process where over those eight years hopefully other things in my life will become more relevant as boxing slowly fades.”
Nominate your NHS heroes for The Sun’s Who Cares Wins health awards
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
