Anthony Ogogo Opens Up About Mental Health Struggles Following Boxing Retirement

AEW

TW: Suicide, Mental Health.

Anthony Ogogo has opened up about his mental health struggles, and having suicidal thoughts after retiring from boxing.

Ogogo’s last professional boxing fight took place in October 2016, against Craig Cunningham. In March 2019, Ogogo officially retired from the sport due to issues with his eyes.

In an interview with the Independent, Ogogo recalled spending more money than he had earned throughout his professional fighting career on surgeries, with the hopes of one day stepping back into a boxing ring.

Noting that his wife is one of the reasons he’s still here today, Ogogo said:

“I retired on March 11, 2019 I remember it like the back of my hand, my last fight was basically three years before – October 2016 – and there was no conceivable way that I was thinking I’ve walked to the ring as a 27-year-old, as a baby, entering my prime, for the last time.

“I spent £100,000 on surgeries in America, that was everything I earned in boxing, and much more beside. I sold my car, remortgaged my house to pay for surgery that didn’t work. Then I had an injection in my eye, it was a Botox injection to weaken the muscle to try to bring the eye to a better position – it missed the intended muscle and permanently paralyzed the nerve in my left eye.

“I gave my life to boxing and I had nothing to show for it other than bad vision; no money, no belts and no titles. I lost my career, I lost my passion, lost my livelihood and I’ve had to sit and watch people who have half of my ability grow and become world champions and multimillionaires. No exaggeration.

“I was generally suicidal and there’s one night in my life, it was December 2019, if my wife wasn’t home that day, I probably would have ended my life that night because I was beyond the brink but thankfully my wife and I were able to address my life. She literally saved my life – that was my ground zero and I’ve built up from that.”

Ogogo signed with AEW in October 2019, before making his in ring debut for the promotion in April 2021.

The Olympic bronze medallist last wrestled during Wednesday’s AEW Dark: Elevation taping ahead of Dynamite. You can read spoilers from this taping right here.

If you’re struggling with your own mental health, information on where you can find support is available at this link.

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• anthony ogogo
• boxing
• mental health
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