Yashua Flemming, the 14-year-old son of former Gogglebox favourite Marcus Luther, has won a national boxing title following a serious injury that threatened his career. The young boxer, known as Yash, triumphed in the Welsh Box Cup last week, adding to his impressive record of 25 wins from 25 fights.
Yash and his training partner Dylan Gibson, also 14, have become online sensations, racking up over 60 million views on TikTok as they document their journey towards the 2028 Olympics. The pair met in the ring during the 2021 England Boxing Championships, where Yash won by split decision, a result Dylan memorably described as a 'robbery'. Despite that, they have been best friends ever since.
Boxing runs in both families. Yash's father Marcus, who appeared on Channel 4's Gogglebox with partner Mica Ven, is a boxing trainer who coached Yash's elder brother Shiloh Defreitas to an undefeated professional record. Dylan's father Paul coaches him at Islington Boxing Club in North London, having switched from karate to boxing after visiting the famous Repton Boxing Club.
Yash, who won a European gold medal in August 2023, said the pair's online fame has inspired other youngsters to take up the sport. 'We get recognised in the street now, and it's great to see kids commenting that we've inspired them to start boxing,' he said. Their TikTok account has already amassed 140,000 followers, with Sky Sports and England Boxing taking notice.
The duo's latest success comes after Yash overcame a shoulder injury that kept him out of the ring for several months. 'Winning the Welsh Box Cup after all that rehab feels amazing,' he added. Dylan, who has 26 wins from 31 fights, is equally determined: 'We push each other on and make each other better. It's a rivalry, but we're best mates first.'
