Joey Essex: Reality TV Star Fulfils Boxing Dream as He Prepares for Dapper Laughs Showdown

Joey Essex says he has gone beyond his original ambitions after turning a long-held dream of entering the boxing ring into reality. The former The Only Way Is Essex star returns for his second fight on Saturday evening, facing comedian Daniel O'Reilly, better known as Dapper Laughs, in Bermondsey, south London.

From Reality Television to the Boxing Ring

Joey Essex first became famous through ITV's reality series The Only Way Is Essex before travelling internationally for Channel 4's Educating Joey Essex. However, boxing gradually became a new ambition for the television personality, who says the sport has a special significance because of his family's history in the ring.

In 2023, Essex attempted to turn that ambition into reality by writing himself a homemade contract. His goal was to join Misfits Boxing, the promotion known for organising bouts involving celebrities, influencers and internet personalities.

Three years later, the 36-year-old believes he has surpassed what he originally imagined. Although he never wrote that he would headline a show, Essex told the BBC that his achievements had taken him further than his initial plans.

“My family are quite huge in boxing, it kind of stems in my blood,” he explained, adding that becoming involved in the sport felt natural given his family background.

His first fight came in August 2025, when he faced Portuguese influencer Joao Barbosa, who is also known as Numeiro. Essex won by a points decision, taking his first step into competitive boxing after years of considering the possibility.

A Family Legacy in Boxing

Boxing is not entirely unfamiliar territory for Essex's family. His father, Donny, competed more than a dozen times under the Amateur Boxing Alliance, although he never turned professional.

His uncle, Tony Sims, has also played a significant role in the sport. A boxing trainer who has worked with prominent fighters including Anthony Joshua and Ricky Burns, Sims is now overseeing his nephew's development at his gym in Stapleford Abbotts.

However, Sims was initially sceptical about Essex's prospects. He reportedly told his nephew that he “should never be a boxer” because he was “too pretty”.

Despite those doubts, Essex has become Sims's latest project. Their collaboration has given the television personality an opportunity to explore a sport that has been part of his family's identity for years.

Essex insists that his aim is not to become a professional boxer. Instead, he wants to experience the challenge rather than spend the rest of his life wondering what might have happened if he had never tried.

“I feel like if I didn't ever do this, I would have always thought 'what if?'” he said.

Second Fight Against Dapper Laughs

Essex's next challenge is comedian Daniel O'Reilly, widely known by his stage name Dapper Laughs. The pair are scheduled to meet on Saturday evening in Bermondsey, south London, with both men having already experienced victory in their first bouts.

Essex's debut against Barbosa was not necessarily the polished boxing display he might have hoped for. He described the contest as a “slugfest”, acknowledging that the fight was more chaotic than technical.

Nevertheless, the points victory gave him a successful introduction to the ring and the confidence to return for a second appearance.

Dapper Laughs also won his first fight, setting up a meeting between two personalities seeking to establish themselves in the crossover boxing scene.

Essex hopes the upcoming contest will offer a more convincing demonstration of his boxing ability. Reflecting on his debut, he joked: “Let's hope there's actually some boxing involved.”

A Dream That Became Reality

Essex's move into boxing represents a different chapter in a career built largely around entertainment and reality television. Rather than pursuing a professional career in the sport, he is seeking to test himself against a personal ambition that he says would otherwise have remained unanswered.

His family connections have provided both inspiration and access to experienced coaching, while his first victory has given him a foundation for the next challenge.

The bout against Dapper Laughs will offer another opportunity to show how much he has developed since his debut. For Essex, however, stepping into the ring has already fulfilled a dream that began with a handwritten contract and a desire to follow his family's boxing tradition.