Anthony Joshua shows true colours with heartwarming gesture to ex-fighter

The two-time heavyweight champion is well renowned for his warm personality outside of the ring, but barely anyone knew the 'unbelievable' offer he made in 2019

Anthony Joshua paid for the funeral of the brother of former fighter Kevin Mitchell in a heartwarming gesture.

Mitchell held the British super featherweight title in 2008 and Commonwealth title between 2006 and 2008. The 39-year-old also challenged for the world lightweight title twice in his career before hanging up the gloves after back-to-back defeats by Jorge Linares and Ismael Barroso in 2015.

And Mitchell has shared a touching story about Joshua relating to his younger brother. The 39-year-old's sibling Vinny, who also boxed professionally, died in a motorcycle accident in 2019 at the age of 31. And Kevin revealed how heavyweight Joshua reached out to him personally and to his mother after the accident, sending his condolences and offering to pay for the funeral.

Mitchell recalled that it was a tough time for the family as they were under a lot of stress when they were trying to figure out how they would pay for the funeral and manage their mortgage payments. That's when Joshua decided to offer his help.

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." When he was asked whether the touching gesture was made because he knew him or his brother, Kevin continued: "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 like that.

"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." While Mitchell has retired from the sport, Joshua continues to fight at the top level. 'AJ' looks set to face British rival Daniel Dubois in a mouthwatering sequel having lost to the 'Dynamite' via knockout in the fifth round last month.