Dave Harris proud of Anthony Joshua for highlighting the work and vision of Ringside Charitable Trust

Last month it was tough to learn that Thomas Hearns – the legendary ‘Motor City Cobra’ who became the first boxer in history to win world titles in five weight divisions - was having some problems both in terms of his physical health (he underwent hip replacement surgery in 2025) and his finances (he evidently lost his long-time Michigan home due to alleged fraud last year).   

Hearns earned north of $40 million in prize money during his Hall-of-Fame career. But hangers-on, poor investments and health issues have seemingly sapped him of his wealth. It got me thinking that of it can happen to Hearns, it can happen to anyone.

There is no overall governance in boxing you see, unlike in other sports.

In football in the UK for example, we have the PFA, or Professional Footballers' Association, which is the trade union for current and former professional footballers in England and Wales, representing players in the Premier League, Women's Super League, and English Football Leagues.

There are pensions, financial support and help available regarding career transition once a player retires.

Boxing is not like that. Happily, there are people out there who want this to change.

For more than seven years now Dave Harris at the Ringside Charitable Trust has been on a mission to go into bat for retired fighters who need help.

He has worked tirelessly in trying to raise funds to build a charity that supports fighters when and, ideally, before they reach crisis point.

The Ringside Charitable Trust is currently the only charity in existence which aims to provide a structured and sustainable aftercare system for fighters struggling to transition to a life without boxing (of which there are many).

The amiable Harris, who used to box himself and has a been in the fight game all his life, explained to DAZN News recently how he feels the British Boxing Board of Control could play a pivotal role in helping ex-fighters get the support they need.

“The British Boxing Board of Control do a wonderful job in looking after active boxers throughout their fight careers. But as soon as their career is over, nobody wants to do anything,” Harris said.  

“The Board of Control could put 1% for every boxer to pay on their earnings – which is tax deductible so won’t cost them a penny. Basically, that’s the same as what The Jockey Club do currently in this country. The Jockey Club have two state of the art, wonderful homes for injured jockeys.

"Likewise, promoters in the UK, if they put a pound on the price of a fight ticket and that money went to the Ringside Charitable Trust, am certain we would be able to run the homes.”

The vision for the Ringside Charitable Trust is to establish a thirty-six-bed residential care facility to support fighters who have fallen on hard times, offering care and retraining for them after they pack up boxing.

They are already making a difference, as Harris explains; “We have helped 97 ex-fighters and their families, not just financially but by putting together packages of care for them where ex-boxers will go and visit them and keep an eye on them.

"The Ringside Charitable Trust is trying to do their level best to be there for everybody. We have a helpline that runs five days a week, 52 weeks of the year apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day.”

However, Harris knows a home for ex-fighters would be a game changer. Everyone working at the proposed facility would be fully qualified and Harris advised that each keyworker assigned to an ex-fighter would “know that fighter’s career inside out” so they can reminisce and watch footage of the fighters’ old fights with them.

There is still a lot of work to be done, and people and organisations within boxing who need to show their support. However, one high profile fighter Harris cannot speak highly enough about for getting behind the cause is Anthony Joshua.

“The only person who has done anything about it is Anthony Joshua, bless his heart”.

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AJ took time out to speak to Harris and the RCT a few months ago and promised he would continue to be an ambassador for Ringside Charitable Trust and to raise awareness for the charity. He then proceeded to wear their logo on the front of his gown as he walked to the ring in December to face Jake Paul in Miami, a fight that was the second most-watched boxing event of 2025 after attracting 33 million viewers globally.

The fact that the Watford puncher wore the charity’s logo proudly on the jacket he wore to the ring was such a tonic for Harris and his team.

“I can’t praise Anthony Joshua enough. He said he was going to wear our logo on his gown for the Jake Paul fight and he was true to his word. He really done us proud.”

Hopefully more high-profile fighters and promoters can show their support in 2026 for a hugely worthwhile cause, and if that happens then the indefatigable Harris could finally realise his dream.

As I closed the interview a bullish Harris said, “The Ringside Charitable Trust are proud of what they've already achieved, but the fight is not over until the home is up and running.”

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