‘Anthony Joshua paid for my brother’s funeral when family was stressed and emotional with mortgages’
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.
However, 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.
But 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.’
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“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).
“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.