Joey Essex has revealed that Conor Benn “nearly put” him in hospital after refusing to take it easy during a punishing sparring session.
The reality television star has spent years training at the Romford gym run by his uncle Tony Sims, who also coaches Benn ahead of his major world-title showdown with Ryan Garcia.
Essex has since entered the ring himself through Misfits Boxing, but he was still relatively inexperienced when he agreed to share a body-sparring session with Benn.
Despite their friendship and the gulf between their respective boxing backgrounds, Essex quickly discovered that the unbeaten British fighter was not prepared to treat him differently from any other opponent.
A series of forceful shots to the body left the former The Only Way is Essex personality struggling for breath and fearing he might require medical attention.
“I rang my uncle Tony and after the sparring, I did think I had to go hospital,” Essex told The Sun.
“I said to him out of breath I think I’m gonna like ps blood or whatever. No, he said to me you might ps blood. Right.
“I had to go to an event after. I sparred Conor, but you’d think he’d go easy. But he don’t go easy!
Joey Essex has revealed that Conor Benn “nearly put” him in hospital after refusing to take it easy during a punishing sparring session
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GETTY
“He takes every person the same way. I mean he didn’t go too crazy, but he nearly put me in hospital.”
Essex ultimately avoided a trip to hospital and has continued developing his own crossover boxing career under Sims.
He won his Misfits debut last August and is now preparing to return for his second bout in October.
Benn, meanwhile, is facing an altogether more daunting assignment when he challenges Garcia for the American’s WBC welterweight world title in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
The 29-year-old will enter the contest as the underdog against Garcia, 28, who has become one of boxing’s most recognisable and commercially successful figures.
However, Essex is backing his friend to upset the odds and believes Benn’s courage could prove decisive against the defending champion.
“Ryan Garcia is a perfect person to fight in Conor’s situation for sure,” Essex said.
“Ryan’s probably the biggest say social media star in boxing, I would say, personally. There’s no other bigger person doing it like him.
Joey Essex has a positive relationship with Conor Benn
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PA
“He’s on Kick, he’s streaming, he’s just always doing his boxing on his speed ball and all that.
“And also I do think like when Conor talked a lot about heart, I do believe that Conor’s heart is way bigger than Ryan’s.
“Ryan has technically quit like before, do you know what I mean?
“So, I think Conor’s got it, personally. And not just cause he’s my mate.”