Conservatives call for honour for local boxing champion

Cllr Chris Burnicle has called on Sunderland City Council to honour Sunderland’s Josh Kelly with the Freedom of the City.

Chris, who is a Conservative councillor for Herrington, has a background in amateur boxing within the city. His campaign to award Josh Kelly with the Freedom of the City is rooted in his own understanding of how important the new world champion’s achievement is to local boxers across Sunderland and the wider region.

In 2021, Chris’ campaign to become a councillor was endorsed by Olympic boxer Tony Jeffries. Since being elected, he has used his platform to promote the sport and men’s health more broadly. He has commended Josh Kelly for talking openly about his own mental health experiences.

Chris said:

“Josh Kelly’s achievements reflect not just his individual talents, but the wider talents of Sunderland’s boxing community.

“All of Josh’s accomplishments - from representing his country at the Olympics to his most recent championship victory - show our city in a positive light.

“It is my belief that he would be a worth recipient of the Freedom of the City and so I have written to the Leader of Sunderland Council to make this request.”