Reading-born boxer Josh Frankham is calling on local support to help him rise to the top of the sport, and maybe even fight at the home of Reading FC.

The 22-year-old super welterweight turned professional in 2020 and currently has an unbeaten record in his opening four fights.

From a big boxing family, Frankham is the cousin of current World Heavyweight Champion, Tyson Fury.

Speaking exclusively to the Reading Chronicle, Mr Frankham can’t thank the Manchester-born icon enough.

He said: “I am very close to Tyson, so when I went to camp with him he was the one who told me to turn pro.

“It was always going to be boxing with me.

“It helps massively [having family members in the sport] because they’re all on the same path as you, it’s in the blood.

“He’s done a lot for me, including my deal with Frank Warren, and telling me to turn pro.

“I can’t thank him enough.”

 

Reading Chronicle:

Above: Josh Frankham (credit: Stephen Dunkley, Round 'N' Bout Media)

 

Promoted by Hall of Famer Frank Warren, who has managed the likes of Ricky Hatton and Frank Bruno, Mr Frankham believes he is in safe hands.

He continued: “He’s going to take me all the way.

“To know you’ve got a great team behind you, there’s nothing better.

“All I’ve got to do is the business in the ring.

“I speak to Tyson a lot, and I asked him who he thought I should go with.

“Straight away he said Frank, he gave Frank a text to say, ‘look after my cousin’ and we went from there.”

With his next fight scheduled for 11 March, live on BT Sport, Mr Frankham is calling on all of Reading to support the next generation of sports stars from the area.

He implored: “It would be lovely get some support from the Reading locals.

“We’re all one big town, hopefully city soon, and we should all follow each other.

“My dream is to fight at the Select Car Leasing Stadium one day.

"I live just over a mile from the stadium and I’ve been a season ticket holder my entire life, so I’d love to fight there.

“We haven’t had a star from Reading, so hopefully I can be one that everyone can get behind.

“We’ve never really had a big boxing following here, but hopefully I can put it on the map.”