Tommy Fury probably owes Ricky Hatton a rather large drink when he comes out of the Love Island villa, as he reckons the boxer is responsible for his upcoming turn on the ITV2 reality show.
Tommy, the younger brother of boxing champion Tyson Fury, has revealed he was approached for the series after Ricky made a flippant comment in an interview.
Speaking to HuffPost UK and other journalists in Mallorca, Spain, the 20-year-old professional boxer credited his fellow sportsman for spiking producers’ interest in him.
Tommy said: “Ricky Hatton did an interview somewhere down the line when I first joined his gym.
“He said he didn’t know why I was training here because I don’t look like a boxer, he said he looks like he’s off Love Island. I think that’s what started it off.
“From then, it’s just been a whirlwind.”
And while Ricky was clearly having a joke at Tommy’s expense originally, he’s actually been a big supporter of the idea.
“He’s very behind it actually,” he said. “Everyone has been really. It was a massive opportunity for me to showcase myself because of a lot of previous thoughts about me, so it’ll be good to be on a bigger platform and show off my real personality.”
While Tommy is hoping to use his appearance on Love Island to break out of his older brother’s shadow, his inclusion was spoiled somewhat by Tyson when he leaked his name to the press in an interview earlier this month.
Reflecting on Tyson’s foot-in-mouth episode, Tommy said: “He couldn’t keep a lid on it!
“I was in the gym [when he saw the story] and I went on my phone and decided to pretend I hadn’t seen it. But it is what it is, what can we do.”
Revealing Tyson was “in hysterics” when he first told his brother he was heading into the villa, Tommy added: “But he’s backing me all the way.
“I’m proud of what he’s doing, and he’s proud of what I’m doing.”
However, he won’t be boasting about his brother to his fellow contestants.
“Ever since I was a child and I said I wanted to be a professional everyone said that I was just trying cling onto my brother and get a little bit famous and I want to show people that that’s not the case at all,” he said.
“I’m not going to lie about who I am, if they ask then I’ll tell them. But it won’t be something I’ll be bragging about because that’s just not my style.”
Of what viewers can expect to see of him in the villa, Tommy added: “[People] judge how I look and my physique and what I do for a living, they think I’m a cocky, arrogant guy who’s too good for anyone, and that’s not the case at all.
“I cry at films. I like hugging. I like holding hands. I am not a fighter. I’m so the opposite of what people think I am. Boxing is my trade, fair enough, but as a person I am the furthest away from violence.”
Love Island kicks off on Monday at 9pm on ITV2.