Misfits Boxing chief wants Joey Essex to face ex-Prem star and reveals talks for ‘A-list actor’ to fight

MISFITS BOXING have huge plans for a footballer to fight Joey Essex while revealing talks with an “A-list actor”. Misfits was launched in 2022 by YouTube star KSI and his manager Mams Taylor as the home to celebrity-style crossover bouts. Joey Essex beat Portuguese influencer Numeiro in his boxing debut Credit: Getty Essex could fight a footballer next Credit: Getty KSI had seven fights himself but is yet to return since defeat to Tommy Fury in October 2023. Huge celebrities like Essex, 36, have followed KSI into the ring with the reality TV star returning on October 10 against comedian Dapper Laughs – real name Daniel O’Reilly. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! And promoter Taylor revealed plans to welcome names from the football and acting world into Misfits alongside Essex. He told SunSport: “Joey’s got three fights planned with us, so let’s see how this goes. It’ll be good having him back. “I’ve just made a fight verbally with a guy who collectively has 60 million followers in a completely different space. “He’s a pretty big name, and he’s going to be fighting a legacy name as well. There’s some really fun things cooking. “We’re speaking to some former football stars as well, which I’m looking to close ASAP. “When I say football stars, I’m talking a massive name – someone who’s lifted a number of trophies and is a very important figure in the world of football. Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It has already been a blockbuster year inside the ring, and it is not going to stop anytime soon! All eyes are focused on when Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will get in the ring, with the pair due to finally settle their decade-long rivalry. In his first world title fight, Conor Benn has been beaten in TWO ROUNDS by WBC champion Ryan Garcia. October’s action doesn’t stop either, with Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois facing off in the rematch of their thrilling fight in May, while Canelo Alvarez returns against Christian Mbili on Halloween. Here’s all the big fights coming up… September Sat 26 – Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton – Sky Sports October Sat 3 – Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace – DAZN Sat 10 – Joey Essex vs Dapper Laughs – DAZN Sat 17 – Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 – DAZN Sat 24 – Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello – DAZN Sat 31 – Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbili – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. “Aside from that, there’s an A-list actor who’s interested in fighting. “These are all very exciting conversations because it opens the door and makes everyone understand that it’s okay to do this, rather than back in the day when it was kind of like a revival thing or your career’s on death’s door and then you might do celebrity boxing. “It’s not that anymore, and I think it brings a lot of value to whatever else you have going on. People are starting to realise that, so I’m excited for that.” Essex won his Misfits debut last August against Portuguese influencer Numeiro in Manchester. And Taylor has plans to put The Only Way is Essex icon in against a former footballer or KSI’s brother Deji in the future. He said: “I’d like Joey to fight a footballer as well at some point. Let’s see how it goes. And Joey and Deji, when Joey has a bit more experience. “Deji, we’ve been having conversations about him coming back as well and I think fans will be very excited about that as long as it’s matched correctly. “So yeah, I think there’s a lot of, there’s a bright, bright future.” Comment now