[michael21]

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...s-watching-you

Big Brother want to make Tyson Fury their biggest ever housemate.

Producers of the reality TV show approached the 6ft 9ins giant to take part in the latest celebrity series which starts tomorrow night.

Channel 5 want to build on the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion’s popularity after he became a prime time star in 2011.

Fury rejected the offer because he was due to fight in Blackpool at the end of January, meaning the show would fall right in the middle of his training camp.

That fight has since been cancelled at the Winter Gardens and Big Brother are still keen on the 23-year-old from Wilmslow.

Fury became a major hit for Channel 5 last year, heralding prime time boxing’s return to terrestrial television.

His British and Commonwealth title clash with Dereck Chisora in July drew in around three million viewers – making him a household name in the UK.

And his third round knockout of Neven Pajkic in Manchester in November confirmed his status as one of the most exciting talents in boxing.

Channel 5 hope he can become a natural successor to Ricky Hatton and transcend the ring as a celebrity too.

They have been keen to get in on the ground level, throwing their support behind him even before he won the British title.

He has already been a guest on daytime show, The Wright Stuff, and Big Brother is an opportunity to give him a much wider reach.

Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty enjoyed major success on the show last year.

The Salford traveller was crowned the winner in September, ahead of Kerry Katona.

Fury was then approached to be on the next series having already made a name for himself with his out-spoken ways.

He had to apologise after saying he would “kill” Chisora ahead of their clash at Wembley Arena.

A source close to Fury said: “There were talks months ago and an offer was made. There is a possibility that he could go on in the future.”

Fury and his wife, Paris, endured a scare last month when their seven-week old son Prince was admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis.

He had to be resuscitated three times and was in intensive care for two weeks.

The fright naturally disrupted his preparations for his January fight and discussions are now underway for a new date.

Fury hopes to challenge for a world title before the end of the year against WBA champion Alexander Povetkin.

But he is also keen to make his name in America with a big clash across the other side of the Atlantic. A major fight in front of home-town fans at the MEN Arena is also on the horizon for the man who is tipped to become Britain’s first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis.

Fury has built up a record of 17 fights undefeated since turning professional in 2008 and won the English, British and Commonwealth titles in that time. The next 12 months are expected to be his biggest yet before going in search of heavyweight kings Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko in 2013.

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