Jake Cornish targets Joey Essex after Misfits bout
Love Island star Jake Cornish has his sights set on TV personality Joey Essex after his Misfits Duel 2 clash with Wil Anderson.
Cornish rose to fame after appearing on season seven of the UK reality show Love Island and has since ventured into the world of influencer boxing. The Bristol-born heavyweight is set to face fellow former islander Wil Anderson at Derby’s Vaillant Live on Saturday, 7 March 2026 as part of the Misfits Duel 2 card.
While Cornish remains focused on the immediate challenge ahead, he has already made it clear who he wants next if he manages to come out victorious. The reality TV star has openly called out Joey Essex, believing the matchup would create significant interest among fans of crossover boxing.
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Cornish eyes Joey Essex showdown after Misfits fight
Cornish made his boxing debut at Misfits & DAZN X Series 17 in August 2024, where he suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Mike Edwards. The upcoming fight against Anderson will be another chance for him to prove himself inside the ring and pick up momentum in his boxing career.
However, the 28-year-old has already been thinking about future opponents and believes a bout with Joey Essex would make for an entertaining contest. According to Cornish, fans reacted strongly when he first floated the idea of the fight online.
“I wanted to fight Joey Essex. I feel like when I put a statement out that me and Joey Essex would fight, my DMs were going crazy. The comments, people messaging me, tweeting me, I feel like that’d be a good fight.”
Cornish also revealed that he would be willing to move down in weight to make the fight happen if Essex was interested.
“I’d come down in weight and I feel like me and Joey would be a good fight.”
The Love Island star said he has already attempted to reach out to Essex directly, hoping to spark discussions about the potential bout.
“I’ve messaged him, he’s seen my messages, he’s seen my mates’ messages. Listen, respect to him as he’s training but I feel like me and Joey could put on a good show.”
Essex himself has only had one boxing fight so far, facing Portugal’s Numeiro at Manchester Arena in August 2025. The bout turned into a lively four-round contest, with Essex earning a victory in what many spectators described as the fight of the night.
Because of that performance, Cornish believes the matchup would deliver excitement for fans. For now, though, his attention remains on Wil Anderson at Misfits Duel 2, with a possible clash against Essex potentially waiting down the line.
READ MORE: Misfits Duel 2: Ty Mitchell vs Gabriel Rosado prediction and fight analysis
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