Boxing

EX-BRITISH champion boxer Kevin Mitchell has revealed the “unbelievable” gesture that Anthony Joshua did for him.Mitchell, 39, held the British super featherweight title in 2008 and Commonwealth title between 2006 and 2008, while also twice challenging for the world lightweight title in 2012 and 2015.Kevin Mitchell has opened up on an incredible gesture from Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram @joshjamesyHe revealed how Joshua paid for his brother’s funeral after he was killed in 2019Credit: The Mega AgencyHowever, the retired champion has now lifted the lid on an incredible move by Joshua relating to his brother’s funeral.Mitchell’s younger brother and pro-boxer, Vinny, died at the age of 31 in 2019 after his motorbike collided with a tree.Heartbroken Kevin recalled how he and his family were under immense stress when they were figuring out how they would pay for the funeral and manage their mortgage payments. With tensions at their height, a phone call from Joshua came in as he wished to offer his condolences.READ MORE IN BOXINGBut after passing the phone over to mum, Alice, Mitchell revealed the stunning offer AJ made to the family.Speaking to Josh Jamesy, Mitchell said: “He had so much pressure on him Josh, and let me tell you something – I’ve not said this to anyone before on podcast – but he paid for my brother’s funeral.Asked whether the “unbelievable” gesture was made because he knew him or his brother, Mitchell continued: “Both. He knew my brother, he knew me, he knew my mum. “He rung me up when we was in the chapel of rest in Dagenham East and he said ‘Kev, how are you? You’re a strong b****** aren’t you.’Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”I said, ‘You have to be Josh it’s life mate’. Then he was like, ‘Is your mum there? Can I speak to her please?'”As we’re sitting around the table grieving – bad emotions and we’re all about to kick off – and we’re all worried about burying my brother, how will we get money, we got mortgages to pay, no one’s working but the bills have still got to be paid so we’re all aggressive and hot tempered, your emotions are like that (does a snake up and down movement).Anthony Joshua brutally told his career is ‘OVER’ as boxing promoter suggests final ‘good’ fight after Dubois KO “I was so stressed, I was under a lot of pressure and he went, ‘Alice, do you mind if I get it?'”She said, ‘What do you mean?’ My mum didn’t quite hear him. And he went, ‘I’m going to pay for his funeral Alice if you don’t mind and he paid for it.”Mitchell retired from boxing in 2016, having lost his last two fights by TKO.Joshua, 35, lost the chance to become a three-time heavyweight champion after being defeated by Daniel Dubois in a fifth round TKO in September.A Battle of Britain rematch is on the cards, but a deadline has been set on when that rematch can be. More

FABIO WARDLEY is potentially facing an investigation into the gloves he wore in his brutal beatdown of Frazer Clarke.The Suffolk slugger, whose team have vehemently DENIED suggestions of glove tampering, settled the score with his domestic rival with a vicious first-round KO in their Riyadh rematch last weekend.Fabio Wardley renewed his rivalry with Frazer Clarke in Riyadh last weekendCredit: GettyThe Suffolk slugger brutally knocked out Clarke in the first round of their British and Commonwealth title fightCredit: GETTYClarke suffered a sickening broken jaw and cheekbone which left a dent in the side of his headCredit: GETTYClarke’s promoter Ben Shalom has claimed they’ll launch an investigation into the gloves used by WardleyCredit: GETTYClarke was left with a broken jaw and a huge dent on the side of his head courtesy of Wardley’s wicked overhand right.And the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist’s team are set to look into the padding in Wardley’s custom Fly gloves, which the British Boxing Board of Control approved before the pair traded heavy leather.Promoter Ben Shalom told BetFred: “Yes, it’s something we’re looking very carefully at with our team.”Not just for big Frazer’s sake, but the fact that these customised gloves are being introduced, you have to look into it and see how they’re different.READ MORE BOXING NEWS”It’s an ongoing process, but during the week we were warned repeatedly by Frazer’s team about what gloves could be used.”It’s no excuse, Frazer lost the fight fair and square, but it’s the damage that they could cause and that’ll have to be looked at.“I take nothing away from Fabio Wardley. Class act, class performance, but it’s something that we’ll look at going forward.”Clarke, 33, was immediately transported to the hospital after the devasting defeat and underwent a litany of scans.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSVictory over Frazer Clarke saw Fabio Wardley retain the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titlesCredit: GETTYHe had successful surgery to repair the damage to his broken jaw and damaged cheekbone before flying back to the UK.And Shalom claims doctors were left stunned by the damage he sustained from the concussive blow.SunSport’s boxing reporter Wally Downes Jr left shocked with Wardley’s devastating KOThe Boxxer chief said: “There was a lot of talk all week about the gloves being worn by Fabio Wardley. “And the doctor said to me, ‘There is no way in hell any boxing glove should be able to have that level of damage.'”Shalom, however, insists the padding in Wardley’s custom gloves made no difference to the outcome of the fight.He said: “It was a clinical, clinical end to the fight from Fabio Wardley.”Anything can happen in heavyweight boxing and Frazer will learn from it and he’s got a massive career ahead of him.”Clarke broke his silence on his crushing defeat on Thursday, insisting he WON’T be hanging up his gloves.He told talkSPORT: “Don’t get me wrong I was devastated at the time and my pride is still dented now but the fighter in me knows that I will be back.”It is going to be a difficult road but I will work hard like I always have and aim for those heights again.”I’m 33 but I’m in the prime of my life, I felt in my prime on that night but it was just a great shot from Fabio and a leaky defence and switch off from myself.”But I’m fittest now and the most athletic I’ve been in my whole career so I’m not even looking for it to be over.READ MORE SUN STORIES”If anything it is just a blip in the road.”SunSport have contacted the British Boxing Board of Control for comment.Clarke admits the defeat dented his pride as well as his cheekboneCredit: GETTY More