23 August 2023 , 11:58
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TV presenter Chris Tarrant has accused boxing legend Tyson Fury of wanting "cheap publicity" amid the random rift between the two stars.
Speaking to his son on the radio this morning, former Who Wants To Be A Millionaire presenter Chris claimed "there was no fight" between himself and Tyson - adding he's never spoken to the Netflix star - and questioned if Tyson is " trying to set me up for the next fight? Is he trying to rile me?"
The unexpected beef between Chris and Tyson kicked off thanks to the sports star's reality TV series, At Home With The Furys. During the third episode of the Netflix hit, Tyson revealed he was planning a trip to the Gleneagles in Scotland and recalled: "I had a big row with Chris Tarrant the last time I was there."
However, Chris has since said he has no recollection of the "big row" and doesn't even recall ever speaking with Tyson. Speaking on Radio X this morning, Chris told his son Toby Tarrant (standing in for Chris Moyles on the breakfast show) how he was once in lift with the boxer but "never spoke to him". He continued to say Tyson "just wants cheap publicity" and now has a "plan" because he’s "wound up" and "riled up" and it’s brought out the "warrior" in him.
Chris Tarrant says Tyson Fury's comments have 'riled' and 'wound him up' (Nils Jorgensen/REX/Shutterstock)
The TV presenter says he has 'a plan' if the boxer does want to fight (Getty Images)Discussing Tyson's quotes on the Netflix show about the "big row", Toby told Radio X listeners: "I just thought, that is typical of my dad, I take my eye off of him for one moment and he’s getting in a fight with Tyson Fury. Well I’m very happy to say that we have got Dad on the phone right now. Dad why are you starting a fight with the Gypsy King? What’s wrong with you?"
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Giving his side of the story, Chris explained: "I didn’t actually start the fight… in actual fact, there was no fight, there was no big row, I’ve never met this man, but of course I wouldn’t pick a row with the biggest man on the planet. It’s complete and utter nonsense! If it was any normal bloke, and any normal boxer, or any other boxer I would say, he’s had too many blows to the head, but nobody’s ever hit Tyson on the head! He’s six foot 9, you can’t get near him!
"I’ll tell you what we did, I was up in Gleneagles with my Mrs, we got into a crowded lift, and you know you do that thing, everybody does it, you get into the lift and you automatically look forward towards the doors, so I looked towards the doors, I’m vaguely aware that there’s a massive sort of mountain at the back of this very crowded lift, and I get out and the doors close, and I said 'I think that was Tyson Fury in the lift'. We’re going to dinner, I mean I was in the lift for 30/45 seconds, I go to the dinner and I say to the waitress girl 'Just out of interest, is Tyson Fury staying in this hotel?' and she says 'I can’t tell you that' and I went 'well he definitely is then'."
Chris doesn't have any issues with the rest of the Fury family, just 'him, big boy, big boy big mouth'Chris went on to reveal how there could actually be a fight in the future, declaring: "I never spoke to him, I still never met him, so why? So weird. Is he trying to set me up for the next fight? Is he trying to rile me? It’s a bit of publicity for him and all that, but there’s a point where you know, it’s starting to bring out the warrior in me frankly. Oh come on, you can look past it, I’ll tell you what, I’m in the gym."
Reacting to his dad's comment, Toby asked Chris if he has "fire in the belly" now, to which Chris replied: "I’ve got a plan, because this is going to go all the way now, and it’s actually wound me up as well, I just think, he just wants cheap publicity out of me and I’m not having it. I have a plan that on the night of the fight, I’m going to hide behind his dressing room door, and when he comes out, I’m going to hit him with a lead pipe."
As everyone on the call and in the radio studio laughed, Chris added: "It’s simple, but I think it could be a win!" The TV presenter continued to confirm he has no beef with any other member of the Fury family, saying he just has an issue with "just him, big boy, big boy big mouth."
"Dad I’ll be honest, I’m backing you, I reckon if you just work your jab, and get him on the inside, you’ve got the hay maker right, it’s nights out for Mr Tyson," Toby went on to tell Chris, causing the star to jokingly reply: "It’s all over, it’s night night Mr Fury. And then I just hang up my dogs and go back to my quiet life. He shouldn’t have riled me, shouldn’t have wound me up. No more Mr Nice Guy Tyson."