TV presenter Chris Tarrant has moved to clear up having an altercation with Tyson Fury after the heavyweight champion made a revelation.
Fury insists the part had ‘a big row’ when both were on a trip to Gleneagles. However, Tarrant denies any such meeting took place.
The former Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host states he’s never met Fury. He did say that he may have shared an elevator once, though.
Below, speaking to his son Toby on Radio X, Tarrant explained all.
Chris Tarrant explains his Tyson Fury story
[TT: Toby Tarrant – CT: Chris Tarrant – DB: Dominic Byrne]
TT: “I had a big row with Chris Tarrant last time I was there.”
DB: That’s the quote. Straight from the horse’s mouth
TT: And I just thought, that is typical of my dad. I take my eye off of him for one moment. 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?
CT: 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 were any normal bloke, 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 nine. You can’t get near him!
“No idea. I’ll tell you what we did.
Gleneagles elevator
“I was up in Gleneagles with my Mrs. We got into a crowded lift. 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. I got out, and the doors closed. 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’m going to the dinner. I said to the waitress girl, “Just out of interest, is Tyson Fury staying in this hotel?” – She said, “I can’t tell you that.”
“But I went, “Well, he definitely is then.” I never spoke to him. I still never met him, so why? So weird.
Tarrant vs Fury
“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.”
TT: Are you getting the fire in the belly? I’m picturing that scene in Rocky, you running down the streets of Philadelphia and punching hanging meats In a freezer. That’s what I’m imagining.
CT: That’s me. I’ve got a plan because this will go all the way now, and it’s also wound me up. I 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 will hit him with a lead pipe.
All: [laugh]
TT: Now there’s the news line.
CT: It’s simple, but it could be a win.
TT: I think that’s right. You’ll have to get past all the Fury family around him at the time.
CT: They’re all good with me.
No beef
TT: You’ve got no beef with them.
CT: I haven’t with the, just him, big boy, big boy, big mouth.
TT: Dad, I’ll be honest. I’m backing you. I reckon if you work your jab. Get him on the inside. You’ve got the haymaker right. It’s lights out for Mr. Tyson.
CT: It’s all over. It’s night-night, Mr Fury. And then I hang up my dogs and go back to my quiet life.
“He shouldn’t have riled me or wound me up. No more Mr. Nice Guy Tyson.”
Listen to Toby Tarrant on Radio X on Global Player.
