LEWIS Sylvester is an Anthony Joshua impersonator and body double who has earned as high as PS16,000 per booking.
A former boss told the 38-year old Birmingham man that he looked just like the ex-boxing champion. He encouraged him to join a similar agency five years back.
Lewis Sylvester makes a living as an Anthony Joshua impersonator and body double.
In various advertisements, Sylvester the body double has been seen alongside AJ
He has been a regular in the AJ's ads, appearing as his body double in high-profile Lynx, Under Armour, and other advertisements.
Lewis, who looks like Adonis Joshua in a sporting pin-up of today, revealed that he attracts more male attention when he is out than when he is at home.
Lewis said that he used to work at Jaguar Land Rover, and his boss used to tell me I looked like AJ." Lewis spoke out for SunSport.
"He said to me that I needed to report to work the next day. He also told me that I have signed up for an agency.
"So I searched for "lookalikes" online and found Lookalikes Agency. They were able to find me work immediately. It was a simple matter of getting started.
Since then, Lewis has starred in ads for Lynx and William Hill as AJ's body-double in advertisements for brands such as Sky, Lynx, William Hill and Under Armour.
He stands 6ft 7in tall and is slightly taller than the real thing. He's not as muscular, though.
He fills a crucial role before AJ arrives.
Lewis stated, "I would wear the clothes he would wear on adverts and then they would set everything up around me to see if everything looks good."
"They will ask me to perform a few tasks, and then they'll see if it's easy. And that's it.
"You don't have to be there for hours and everyone else is working with you."
Lewis and AJ have been in touch many times, and Lewis cannot believe how similar their ringer is to him.
Lewis stated that Lewis always seemed a little confused by the whole thing whenever they meet.
He laughs and says, "From a distance or a side profile it's crazy how much you really do look like me."
This has meant Lewis has been hired as a lookalike for parties and stag parties.
Not all bookings are glamorous.
"I was asked to jump out of a cake at a women's stag do. That one I turned down. Lewis laughed.
"But I did a job at a Leicester venue and sat around waiting for women to straddle me and take pictures with me. It was horrible!
Sylvester joined the Lookalikes Agency five year ago and hasn’t looked back
AJ spends hours every day in the gym to maintain his toned body.
Lewis is fortunate that he doesn’t have to put too much effort into his fitness.
"I don't go to the gym as often as I used to. I'll work out for a few days before going to work - just so I can get in shape.
"I am pretty thin so I don't have much to lose in fat.
"I do press-ups every day and try to stay in good shape." I don't want AJ to be embarrassed."
Joshua is a marketing man's dream. He has talent and good looks.
This means that he has many female admirers and supporters. Lewis joked that he's not as luck with the opposite sex.
He stated that he has more conversations with men out than when he is at home. They are more impressed by the comparison than women.
It wouldn't be as you expected. Men always approach me to say "It wouldn't be what you expect."
"That's all that I get."
Lewis, despite looking handsome AJ, revealed that he attracts more male attention than his female counterparts
Lewis doesn't have to be booked as AJ's lookalike. He's still doing his day job.
"I work for banks. He said that he does contract work as a financial advisor.
"It's quite mundane. So when I book a AJ Job that makes my life more exciting."
Overall, it looks like Lewis has been well-paid by AJ.
He said, "There have been jobs where my earnings are just above PS200 and others where I earn PS16,000."
He also found an unlikely supporter in Oleksandr Usyk, an AJ rival.
After shooting an advertisement in Saudi Arabia for their fight in Jeddah in the future, the Ukrainian champ requested a photo of himself with his body double. He was impressed by his likeness.
Lewis explained that Lewis was called by one of his teams to take a photograph with him.
Lewis impressed Oleksandr Uzyk at a recent shoot. He wanted to take a photo with him
"He asked me if I boxed but I replied that I was a banker, which I believe shocked him.
"Usyk was a very nice guy, but I felt that I was betraying AJ." It's the reason I didn't share it on Instagram!"
Anthony Joshua is one the most marketable athletes in the world
His focus right now is to regain his belts from Usyk for their fight next month.
