Making the Money Work: Boxer Anthony Ogogo on what happened after the London Olympics

In this second Making the Money Work episode, Andi Peters and Simon Lambert talk to Olympic bronze medal winner and former professional boxer Anthony Ogogo about how people fund a boxing career and whether an Olympian makes much money. Anthony tells us about building his boxing career and how an amateur boxer has to support themselves on a shoestring – even when they are heading for the Olympics.

He discusses his subsequent professional career and how after injury forced his retirement, he is swapping the boxing ring for the wrestling ring. The 30-year-old was one of the sportsmen and women celebrated by Britain as the nation enjoyed the thrill of the London 2012 Olympics and a slew of medals. Then aged 23, the middle-weight boxed his way to a bronze medal to add to the gold that he had won in the Junior Olympics in 2004. Anthony, who was also a promising footballer who played for Norwich City’s youth team, had taken up boxing at the age of 12 and by the time he arrived at the London Olympics he had also won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He turned professional after the 2012 Olympics and had a short but successful career in which he challenged to be world champion. He suffered a number of injuries before a fractured eye socket forced his retirement from the sport in 2019, with 11 wins and just one loss in his professional career. In a statement on his retirement, Anthony said: ‘I’ve been through a lot in my career. I’ve had 17 operations and suffered every pain imaginable. I’ve won, lost, cried and hurt. But if you were to ask me would I do it again? In a heartbeat. I love this game’ He signed off with the words ‘Never give up’. Anthony discusses how he got through hard financial times when he was injured, why he’s been careful with money and tried to save, and what it’s like being a cash-strapped up-and-coming fighter in the boxing world where those at the top are making millions. Unable to box anymore due to his eye problems, Anthony is now on the path to a new career as a professional wrestler with All Elite Wrestling and he tells us how he intends to build that and what his financial resolutions for the future are.
About Making the Money Work

In our new podcast series Making the Money Work, in partnership with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, we talk earnings, budgeting and savings with those whose lives and finances roam far from the norm. The five podcasts are hosted by Andi Peters, alongside This is Money’s Simon Lambert, and every fortnight over the next ten weeks you can listen to a new interview with a different special guest about their financial lives.

This is Money’s Podcast will continue to appear each Friday as usual, and the Making the Money Work podcasts will be published fortnightly as a bonus episode in the feed.

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Hosts: Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce, Helen Crane

Producer: Georgie Frost

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