Tommy Fury chose boxing over I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in an attempt to put the ‘hardest year of his life’ behind him.
Fury will return to the ring in January to take on former UFC star Darren Till in Manchester in what will be his first fight in 15 months.
A press conference unveiling the fight predictably descended into chaos on Tuesday with Tommy’s father John throwing a glass of water over Till, who threatened to kick his opponent in the face when they meet in the ring in the New Year.
Fury underwent hand surgery in January which he had been ‘putting off for years’ before his breakup with fiancée Molly-Mae Hague in August.
The 25-year-old was line to appear on the latest edition of I’m A Celebrity but instead chose an offer to fight Till.
‘I’m A Celeb is an amazing show and it’s something I want to do in the future but at the end of the day I am what I am, I’m a fighter and I’ve been doing it since I was a kid,’ Fury said.
‘It’s been a long year, it’s been a tough year; it’s been the hardest year of my life because I’ve not been able to box. It was vital that I ended up in the ring sooner rather than later. It means everything to get back in the ring, especially to start off my year like that.’
Fury has won all 10 of his professional bouts with his first eight victories coming against boxing journeymen.
In February 2023, he beat Jake Paul via split decision in Saudi Arabia, still the only man to beat the American who comprehensively beat Mike Tyson last weekend.
Fury’s next fight was a further step away from traditional boxing and further into the influencer scene against KSI, beating him on points.
‘You can never say what is going to happen,’ Fury continued. ‘I’m 25 years old, years after this has happened, if I’m there being told to jump in for a world title shot, of course I’m going to take it.
I want to be remembered for doing it my way; I got in, got my money, got out and had some entertaining fights along the way. I beat the best known guys on the scene and Darren Till is a proper fighting man. I like the fact he has a fighting background; he’s going to come for a fight, something KSI never did.’