World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has made a substantial donation to helped fund amateur boxing in Britain – saying he hopes “we have not lost the next generation” of fighters.
Some clubs have been forced to close during the pandemic and there has been no government support for boxing.
Briton Joshua, 31, gave a six-figure sum to the amateur boxing federations of England, Wales and Scotland.
“Without grassroots boxing, there is no Anthony Joshua,” he said.
“The doors to these gyms are always open to any kid from any background,” Joshua, who turned professional after winning Olympic gold as an amateur at London 2012, told BBC sports editor Dan Roan.
“If I was 18 again and I was in a position where the gym was closed and it might not open, I would be devastated.
“It’s not just financial help. I will often try and motivate these kids by being amongst them, bringing my belts down and training with them.
“I believe in the next 10-15 years, you are going to see the leaders of tomorrow, but I hope it’s not 25-30 years because we have lost this next generation.”
Funding will be provided to the clubs most in need.
Gethin Jenkins, Chairman of England Boxing, said: “We are delighted and we thank Anthony for this much-needed financial support and for drawing attention to the role and support the clubs offer in their local communities and with it the need for greater government support to grassroots boxing clubs.”
Joshua first became world champion in 2016 when he beat American Charles Martin to win the IBF title.
His most recent fight was a ninth-round stoppage of Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev at Wembley Arena on 12 December.
