Anthony Joshua steps in to pay for funeral of former boxer’s brother as their family struggled with ‘stress and emotions’ of keeping up with their mortgages
Anthony Joshua made a generous gesture by paying for the funeral of Vinny Mitchell, the brother of former world title challenger Kevin Mitchell.
Vinny – who also boxed professionally – died in a motorcycle accident in 2019 at the age of 31, leaving his family and friends distraught.
Kevin shared how Joshua’s kindness came during an emotional and financially stressful time for his family, describing it as ‘unbelievable.’
The British heavyweight star reached out personally to Kevin’s mother after the accident, offering his support and paying the funeral expenses.
Kevin, who held the British super featherweight title in 2008 and the Commonwealth title between 2006 and 2008, said the gesture meant the world to them.
Anthony Joshua made a generous gesture by paying for the funeral of Vinny Mitchell, the brother of former world title challenger Kevin Mitchell
Kevin (pictured on the right) shared how Joshua’s kindness came during an emotional and financially stressful time for his family, describing it as ‘unbelievable’
Vinny (left) lands a punch on Johnny Greaves (right) of East Ham during their Lightweight Contest fight at York Hall on October 9, 2009
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 Joshua knew him or his brother, Mitchell said: ‘He knew us 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.’
‘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 up and down.
‘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.’
Joshua plans to continue fighting – despite suffering the fourth loss of his professional career against Daniel Dubois (pictured above)
Dubois knocked out Joshua in the fifth round of their IBF heavyweight title fight at Wembley
Dubois celebrated with his IBF heavyweight title in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley stadium
Kevin – who challenged for the world lightweight title in 2012 and 2015 – retired from boxing 2016 after losing his last two fights via TKO.
Meanwhile, Joshua plans to continue fighting – despite suffering the fourth loss of his professional career against Daniel Dubois.
The Watford-born fighter was knocked out in the fifth round at Wembley in front of 96,000 fans at Wembley by the 27-year-old domestic rival.
The result saw Dubois retain his IBF heavyweight title – having knocked down his challenger four times during the highly-anticipated bout.
