'I noticed subtle change then my head suddenly turned square like Quagmire's'

A boxer has opened up about the trolling he'd received over his unique appearance, with strangers likening his square-shaped head to that of Quagmire from Family Guy.

Linx, 23, has been boxing since he was five years old, and until the age of 18, there was nothing unusual about his head. However, the years of bare-knuckle fighting took their toll, and his face “swelled up like a balloon”. The champ, who claims to remain undefeated in his 50 bare-knuckle fights, puts this transformation down to tissue damage from repeated blows and reckons he'll need surgery to get his original head shape back.

For now, Linx has to put up with all sorts of intrusive questions, with strangers reportedly stopping him on the street to ask whether he has cancer. Hr also has to contend with online mockery, with social media followers commenting “Giggity Giggity” - Quagmire's well-known catchphrase - under his posts.

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Linx, from Shepherd’s Bush, West London, shared: "It is inevitable that my videos will blow up because of my appearance. But I think people hate on me because I'm confident in a world where a lot of people don't have it anymore.

"They then just pray on people like me and try and bring us down. When my cheeks first grew five years ago, it was really tough, but since posting on TikTok and the nasty comments, it sometimes becomes unbearable. I have my down days, but I try not to let it get to me. I have been given this for a reason."

Taking a positive view, Linx, who has opted not to give his full name, added: "I like to think it has made me look more attractive and that's why people hate on me or be harsh. My cheeks swelled after repeated trauma from punches - other than that it is a mystery as no one else in my bloodline has the issue. I've been told only plastic surgery or Botox would treat it.

"One day I hope to get it done so I can walk down the street like a normal man, also so I'm not stopped and asked if I have cancer or abscesses."

With more than three million views and followers on social media, Linx uses his significant platform for good, and has been cheered by messages from followers telling him his content has made them more comfortable in their own skin.

Linx reflected: "Another reason for why I started my account was that maybe others will feel more confident. Plenty of people have reached out saying I have inspired them to be more confident about themselves, even though something about them might be weird."

Going forward, Linx, who shares ideos via his motivational TikTok page linx_never_give_up, hopes to prove his "haters wrong" by becoming a champion for Misfits Boxing, a British crossover boxing promotion kickstarted back in 2022 by KSI, Mams Taylor, and the Sauerland brothers, Kalle and Nisse Sauerland.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

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