PROFESSIONAL boxer Joshua Wisher, 24, joined students from Horsforth School in their sponsored swim on behalf of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) -  a charity which arranges heart checks for young athletes and campaigns for a nationwide screening programme.

"This was my first event as Leeds representative for CRY," said Wisher "and it was great to see young people raising money for such a worthwhile cause. Boxers are used to brain scans but it would be great if the heart screening programme were extended because in the UK we still have several hundred young people dying annually from undiagnosed heart conditions. CRY’s mission is to prevent as many of those deaths as possible."

Super middleweight Wisher has his fourth professional bout at Elland Road with Bateson Promotions on March 4. "I’m determined to rise up through the ranks in my division but to do so I need longer fights against harder, more challenging opponents. Winning a boxing match doesn’t make you the better man, but it does prove that you’re mentally and physically the tougher fighter. I won’t stop until I get to the very top. As I progress I aim to extend the charity work that I do and provide even more opportunities at the gym I manage in Armley The Ministry of Boxing. I’m getting better known and want to get support from the whole of the city as a boxer. I’d be happy to do as well as Josh Warrington, whose initials I share," explained Wisher.

Two days later Wisher was invited in to Horsforth School by the PE department and spoke to exam classes about his boxing journey from Yorkshire amateur champion to aspiring contender. "We were grateful to Josh for his time with students explaining the demands placed on an elite athlete and which enabled them better to understand the practical application of classroom studies,"said teacher Ben Steele adding "the visit was a success as Josh was inspiring for the students."

"I plan a fundraising evening for a number of charities on 11th May," said Wisher, "but for now emphasis is on training for 4th March when I’ll be facing an experienced Mexican fighter Fernando Valencia. I respect everyone who gets in the ring and I don’t doubt my opponent’s courage but I fight to win so Valencia needs to prepare for a brutal encounter which ends with me knocking him out."