Boxing fans tore into Joey Essex after his MisFits debut descended into a viral spectacle described as “the best and worst fight” many had ever seen.
The former TOWIE star scraped a split decision win over Portuguese prankster Numeiro in Manchester, but the four-round contest quickly became infamous for its lack of skill and sheer chaos.
Clips of both men swinging wildly at each other flooded social media on Saturday night, prompting ridicule from boxing followers who questioned why Essex, 35, was allowed in the ring at all.
“That Joey Essex fight might be the best and worst thing I’ve ever seen,” one fan wrote, summing up the general consensus.
Joey Essex dug deep to win on his boxing debut in Manchester on Saturday night
|GETTY
Another joked: “Are the refs on MisFits cards celebrities as well? They can’t be real boxing refs. This Joey Essex fight was hilarious in the best possible way.”
Others were much harsher.
“For the love of God, never let Joey Essex fight again. That was absolutely atrocious,” fumed one viewer.
Another admitted: “In terms of boxing skill that was by far the worst boxing match I’ve seen in 20 years of watching the sport. But I loved it and want to see a rematch.”
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One blunt assessment read: “He was awful. Robbery. Credit to them both for stepping in the ring - but both were pretty terrible. Fun to watch though.”
Essex, coached by his uncle Tony Sims, had looked sharp early, landing jabs and overhand rights and even forcing a standing count in the third round after catching Numeiro cleanly.
But the YouTuber, real name Joao Barbosa, showed grit to rally late, charging forward in the final round as Essex staggered around the ring with his hands barely raised.
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WHAT A FIGHT!!!!👏@JoeyEssex_ gets the majority decision win over Numeiro!!
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At one stage the referee gave Essex a standing count, but he clung on to reach the bell before collapsing to the canvas in tears when the decision was announced.
Two judges scored it for Essex, with the third calling it a draw.
The crowd roared as Essex celebrated, and professional welterweight Conor Benn offered congratulations from ringside.
But online the reaction was far less forgiving, with the performance held up as another example of the circus-like quality of crossover boxing.
For MisFits, the fight’s viral reach may be seen as a success.
Essex’s antics ensured the bout was one of the most talked-about moments of the night, overshadowing more technically polished contests further up the card.
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Joey Essex was congratulated by Conor Benn following his boxing win on Saturday night
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For Essex himself, it was both a dream debut and a reality check.
His emotional collapse at the final bell showed what the result meant to him, but the widespread criticism highlighted just how brutal the public can be when a celebrity swaps the red carpet for the ring.
Whether he fights again remains to be seen.