The art of boxing: Visioli draws inspiration from Dagenham’s young artists

With preparations continuing for his much-anticipated clash with former world title challenger Maxi Hughes, Giorgio Visioli made time for a different kind of challenge in Dagenham this week.

The Matchroom lightweight joined members of Future Youth Zone for an afternoon combining conversation, creativity and competition, inviting them to put their own artistic stamp on his preparations for the biggest fight of his career to date.

The visit began with local and national media interviews, before Giorgio was shown around the facilities and introduced to the breadth of opportunities available to members.

Open seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, Future offers more than 20 activities per session alongside support from a dedicated team of youth workers.

The tour took in the boxing gym, fitness suite, pool tables and music recording studio, with further spaces for arts and crafts, dance, film and media. A sports hall, climbing wall and outdoor football pitch add to the offer, while the kitchen and café provide access to hot meals and opportunities to develop cooking skills.

Together, these facilities give young people somewhere to spend time with friends, explore their interests and access trusted support, with activities spanning sport, creativity and wellbeing.

Giorgio then joined the group for an engaging Q&A, giving participants a chance to hear his story before beginning their own creative work. The conversation explored his boxing journey and Italian roots, alongside the discipline, respect and sacrifice required to compete at the highest level. Family, the people supporting him, his interests outside boxing and his ambitions for the future provided further inspiration for the challenge ahead.

Drawing on those themes (literally), the group set about creating artwork that expressed something personal about Giorgio. The task encouraged each participant to choose an idea that stood out to them and develop it through images, colours, symbols and lettering.

There were some brilliant concepts to choose from when it came to presenting the finished work. Giorgio selected his favourites, with elements of those ideas now being brought together to shape a special fight-week t-shirt.

For Giorgio, the session offered a chance to share more of himself and see how the group interpreted his story.

“It was great to sit down with everyone, answer their questions and talk about things they might not know about me,” he said.

“They picked up on different parts of my story and came up with some really good ideas. You could see how much thought had gone into them,” he continued.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how it all comes together and wearing something they’ve helped create.”

The opportunity gives the artwork a life beyond the session itself, connecting the group’s creativity with Giorgio’s preparations for Sheffield.

It also offered a different way to engage with boxing, using art and conversation to build a connection with the athlete and the work behind his performances.

Matchroom’s Head of Community Development, Alex Le Guével, highlighted how visits like this complement the wider work being done across the business to support OnSide Youth Zones.

“Giving young people time with our fighters creates space for conversations about the things that matter to them, whether that’s family, confidence, discipline or their own ambitions,” explained Le Guével.

“Here, they could take what they’d heard and make something of their own, with a real opportunity to see their ideas brought to life,” he added.

“Future’s facilities are fantastic, but it’s the team and the support they provide every day that make it such a valuable place.”

“Following our recent activity with Salford Youth Zone, this visit builds on the Matchroom Charitable Foundation’s continued investment in the network, bringing our fighters into those spaces and giving members a chance to get involved.”

Having heard his story and got to know him outside the ring, the group will now be cheering Giorgio on when he faces Hughes at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on Saturday 24th October, live worldwide on DAZN.

On the undercard of Dalton Smith’s first world title defence against Alberto Puello, he will be looking to make a real statement and underline his credentials as one of the lightweight division’s brightest prospects – with Dagenham’s young artists now firmly in his corner.