Anthony Joshua has released a knockout Boxing Day surprise to super fans who unexpectedly found themselves face-to-face with the unified heavyweight world champion in the ring.
Footage released by Sky VIP on Boxing Day shows the stunned reactions of boxing fans who were taking part in what they thought was a masterclass with the boxer’s training team.
In the middle of the workout, the boxing champion disguises himself as part of his own training team and steps into the ring to challenge the group.
Mega fan Kate Hill is seen throwing some punches as she spars with what she believes to be one of Joshua’s team before delivering a knockout blow which floors her mystery opponent.
With concern mounting and worried faces all round, Joshua reveals himself to the group – who break out into a series of gasps and shrieks as they face their boxing hero.
Speaking after surprising his fans, Joshua said: “Today has been a laugh, it’s been exciting and I’ve met a lot of good people. I’ve used a lot of energy, done a lot of pads and surprised a lot of people.
“It’s been an amazing day and I’ve had so much fun seeing the reactions of everyone.”
Ms Hill added: “Going head to head with AJ today was one of the best experiences of my life.”
“It’s a money can’t buy prize. One of the best things we’ll ever do in our lives,” another member of the boxing class Marek Regan said.
The boxing initiative celebrates the innovative Sky VIP loyalty programme, which rewards customers with a range of tickets, experiences and access to Sky tech and service.
Adam Smith, head of Sky Boxing, said: “We’ve had a lot of fun giving our customers such a special thank you. They were really excited to be here training with AJ’s team and their reactions were phenomenal.
“The one-on-one nature of this is so personal I don’t think any of them will forget this for a long, long time, and we encourage all our customers to join Sky VIP and find their own incredible experiences.
“There’s plenty more like this happening all the time.”
To join the programme and learn more about the rewards available to Sky customers, head to the My Sky app and select Sky VIP on the home screen.
