Renowned boxing trainer Joe Gallagher has announced he is fighting stage four bowel and liver cancer.

Gallagher, 56, was diagnosed with the disease in November 2024 and has started chemotherapy treatment.

"It's been a lot to take in over these past few months," Gallagher said in a statement. "I just wanted to carry on as normal as possible while I tried to process things.

"I would like to say no matter how busy life gets, your health should always come first. We can overlook things and put things off because we're always so 'busy', but ultimately there's nothing more important than your health. I didn't have any major symptoms, so if you feel something isn't right, no matter how small, please don't put it off - please go and get checked, as it could save your life.

"I want to thank my family, friends, my fighters and the people I've been able to confide in so far on this journey, their support has been incredible.

"I know I have to prioritise my health at this time, yet boxing is giving me that bit of escapism I need right now. As I go through my own battle, being around an incredible team of fighters is helping me continue to do what I love.

"I've only just begun my fight back against this disease, there's still so much I am processing, which is very hard to talk about right now; it's also a very difficult time for my family & friends too.”

Gallagher currently trains former WBO cruiserweight world champion and current heavyweight star Lawrence Okolie (21-1, 16 KOs), with the pair gearing up for a huge headline fight against Joe Joyce (16-3, 15 KOs) on April 5th in Manchester.

Reigning WBC and IBF welterweight champion Natasha Jonas (16-2-1, 9 KOs) is also an integral part of Gallagher's gym, and is deep into preparations for a unification clash with Lauren Price on March 7th in London.

Manchester-born Gallagher began his career as a trainer over twenty years ago and has gone on to corner multiple world champion fighters from his gyms in Bolton and Moss Side.

In 2015, he won Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year thanks to his work with Scott Quigg, Liam Smith and Anthony Crolla.

That year saw Scott Quigg retain his WBA junior-featherweight title against Kiko Martinez, while Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs) picked up and defended his WBO junior middleweight title in respective bouts with John Thompson and Jimmy Kelly.

Perhaps Gallagher's crowning moment of 2015, however, came when Anthony Crolla knocked out Darleys Perez to win the WBA lightweight title, just 11 months after his fighter suffered a fractured skull as a result of a home burglary.

Gallagher has also previously trained the likes of Matthew Macklin, Callum Johnson, Charlie Edwards, Callum Smith (30-2, 22 KOs) and Paul Butler; the latter two winning world titles under the Mancunian's tutelage too.

Most notably, Gallagher cornered boxing brothers Liam and Callum for their lucrative clashes with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in 2016 and 2020, respectively.

As of late 2023, Gallagher has been head of the Mike Tyson Boxing Gym in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a role bestowed upon him by Turki Alalshikh, head of Riyadh Season and chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia.

Since then, Gallagher has also taken on training duties for Saudi prospect Mohammed Alakel, (2-0), who most recently fought and won on the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury 2 card in December 2024.