Boxing world applauds Anthony Joshua’s efforts to open care home for retired boxers

Anthony Joshua's latest charitable venture is a care home for retired professional boxers.

Boxing world applauds Anthony Joshua’s efforts to open care home for retired boxers

Anthony Joshua in discussion to open care home for retired boxers (Image via Imago)

Anthony Joshua is 34 years old and nearing the end of his career. With an illustrious professional career spanning over ten years and continuing, Joshua has earned a lot from the sport of boxing. He wanted to do his bit and give back to the sport. That is why he has made an effort to take care of ex-professional boxers.

Anthony Joshua recently sat down for a conversation with Lauren Laverne on Sunday’s episode of BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. During their discussion, ‘AJ’ revealed he had discussed opening a care home with his former coach, John Oliver. Joshua highlighted the importance of health, and how fighters’ deteriorating health goes unnoticed in their pursuit of victory.

They suffer by themselves, so we’ve been speaking about opening up a care home. That would be part of my boxing legacy, that I give something back to the sport that made me.

Anthony Joshua on BBC

Paul Fairweather, a trustee of the Ringside Charitable Trust, recently made a Facebook post talking about AJ’s efforts. He revealed that the organization’s chairperson, Dave Harris, has been in discussions with John Oliver regarding setting up the care home for retired professional boxers. The Trust aims at rehabilitating ex-professional boxers suffering from depression, fighting incurred injuries, illnesses, alcohol dependency, and others.

The charity has aimed to raise funds for a 36-bed residential care home for former boxers in need. The vision is to establish a center that includes medical help, and facilities for former boxers to be taken care of both short and long-term. The plan also includes a cinema room for the boxers to watch their old fights and a non-alcoholic bar where they can sit together and reminisce. The estimated annual cost of running the home is a projected £1.5 million.

Fans react to Anthony Joshua building a care home for ex-boxers

The news of Anthony Joshua’s efforts towards contributing to the lives of retired boxers caught the attention of netizens on social media. People went to the comment section to share their reaction to ‘AJ’s initiative. Here are some of the reactions from X:

Fans react to Anthony Joshua's efforts towards retired boxers
Fans react to Anthony Joshua’s efforts towards retired boxers (Image via Imago)
https://twitter.com/WyattMaxwell25/status/1805377035403198868

Everybody in the comment section appreciated ‘AJ’s “class act”. One user wrote that the care home would be a better legacy than any title fight in the career of the former two-time unified WBO, IBF, and WBA heavyweight champion. Others appreciated his ‘thoughtful’ act while another user wrote that ‘AJ’ was “thinking smart and thinking ahead.”

Anthony Joshua made his debut in professional boxing back in 2013 when he was 24 years old. As per initial plans, Joshua intended to retire this year. However, in a previous conversation with Jonathan Ross, the boxer said that he would stay two more years if his body allowed it.

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