Tommy Fury feared he’d become a ‘washed out’ reality TV star after Love Island and happy to swap ‘fake life’ for boxing
TOMMY FURY has admitted he feared he had become a “washed out” reality TV before the Love Island star decided to swap “fake life” and return to boxing.
The 20-year-old, younger brother of former world champion Tyson Fury, was already a pro boxer with a record of 2-0 when he entered the villa last summer.
But he quickly became a household name following his appearance on the hit ITV show.
Fury began to earn thousands for personal appearances and a clothing deal after he and girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague finished runners-up on the programme.
However, he soon realised life as a reality TV personality was not for him long-term.
Fury is making his return to the ring tomorrow on the undercard of Daniel Dubois’ heavyweight clash with Kyotaro Fujimoto at the Copper Box Arena.
Speaking to the Metro he said: “I was doing these personal appearances when I came out of the villa.
“You sort of look at yourself and what makes you happy?
"I’ll never forget it, I remember I was coming back late from a nightclub and it was six or seven in the morning.
“I had a bottle of beer in my hand and was watching the sun come up.
"It hit me then. I’d trained all my life and this doesn’t make me happy.
“I don’t want to be another washed up reality star in five years.
"I want to use the platform I’ve got now and also, use it in the right way.
“Not use it for fame or glory, channel it towards my boxing. Boxing is my passion and it makes me happy.
“I’d had enough of that fake life, it wasn’t real. I wanted to get back into the real world and that’s why I started boxing again.”
After receiving the call from Love Island he cancelled a fight last summer and planned to take a year break from the ring.
But Fury has boxing in his blood, with cousin Hughie Fury also a pro fighter.
He soon realised that he could not take a 12-month sabbatical despite his new-found fame and the perks that came with it.
He explained: “I came out of my mother’s womb fighting.
"Fighting is in my blood, it goes back generations and generations.
“I’m a fighter through and through. People forget I boxed way before Love Island.
"I started long before, it’s not something I’ve suddenly started doing for more fame and money.
“I’ve always been doing this. I’m not doing anything but going back to my roots.”
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He added: “Boxing is something I want and that’s clear in my mind.
"You drop everything that’s around you and focus on the one thing you want to succeed in, and that’s what I’ve done.
“I’ve had a hell of a lot going on, but to succeed in something as serious as boxing you’ve got to be focused and on your game.
"I’ve completely shut out everything else.
“The goal never changes, I want to be world champion.
"I’ve said that since I was a child. That goal will never change. I will get there.”