Reagan Asbury murder: Anthony Joshua says boxing does not have a violence problem
World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua does not think boxing has a violence problem, despite the death of Reagan Asbury in Walsall.
Speaking to Talksport, the British champ was asked about violence in the crowds at boxing nights - particularly in the wake of 19-year-old Reagan's death on Saturday.
He said the sport did not have a problem, but that it did need to pinpoint the people who cause problems and find a way to 'keep them out'.
Asked by former England cricketer Darren Gough if Boxing had a violence problem, AJ said: "No, I don't think it's boxing I think it's the people, some of the people that attend. You have got to go back, people used to come to boxing in suits - it was a very respected sport.
"People in their suits would bring their wives for an elegant night out. But people now go and have a few drinks too many and it is just you cannot control yourself. I can guarantee if it was a Saturday night and they got into a scrap they would wake up on the Sunday morning and regret it. It's just in the moment these people lose themselves.
"I think you could take those people to different sporting arenas and they might do the same thing. The question is how we can pinpoint these people and keep them out. It is a shame for the people who aren't there for those reasons that get caught up in those things.
"I have heard there has been a tragedy over the weekend and it is just pinpointing those people who cause the problems. Boxing will always go on."
As reported by the Express & Star yesterday, promoter Kalle Sauerland has called for police to be deployed inside boxing arenas.
