AARON CHALMERS is now in position to set himself up with life-changing fights with stars from the YouTube and reality TV world.
Chalmers, 34, has now confirmed his switch from MMA to professional boxing, signing for promotional company Boxxer and Sky Sports.
It is the latest chapter in his prizefighting career, which started in 2017 with an MMA debut and will now carry on into the ring.
But Chalmers almost began his boxing career with a mega-fight against fellow influencer Tommy Fury.
He verbally agreed to face Fury, 22, while out of shape weighing 14st and having never boxed before.
But after meeting with trainer Adam Booth in the following days and revealing his plan, the esteemed boxing brain put a stop to that.
Chalmers told SunSport: “I met Adam a week later, and he said, ‘No chance’. It was not in my favour whatsoever.”
What followed for Chalmers was 17 months under the watchful eye of Booth, who famously led David Haye to a heavyweight world title.
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He is set to make his pro boxing debut this April in the middleweight division as the latest high-profile name to sign with Sky Sports.
Chalmers helped headline MMA shows in his home of Newcastle – as well as London and Dublin – with the backing of his Geordie Shore fanbase.
And re-igniting talks with Fury, brother to heavyweight champion Tyson, could be another way of introducing boxing to a new set of eyeballs.
Chalmers said: “I don’t know Tommy, but I know he probably gets as much stick as I do.
“So maybe that’s something we can look at down the line. He’s a big lad, stuff like that, it interests us.
“Because it’s a challenge, it’s a big fight, maybe not for so-called ‘boxing fans’.
“But I’ll bring Geordie Shore fans to the boxing, which is not a bad thing.”
Chalmers is surrounded by elite boxing talent like Michael Conlan, Liam Williams and Josh Kelly at Booth’s Surrey-based gym.
He lives nearby, but that comes at the cost of spending only one weekend every fortnight back home with his partner Talia and their three kids.
But with the likes of YouTuber Jake Paul, 25, bringing millions of pounds to any opponent he faces, it offers Chalmers the ultimate reward.
Chalmers, who has 2million Instagram followers, said: “The sacrifices were made because I knew what could come, I’m looking at how boxing is going.
“Obviously, you’ve got your Jake Pauls and all that, going down that route. If one of them fights come up, that’s my family sorted for life.
“Not that I’m chasing that from the off, but I know with the right noise made, something like that could happen.
“Then the sacrifices would be worth it, as I’d never have to work a day in my life again.”
Paul’s coach BJ Flores is an old friend of Chalmers’ manager Booth, potentially making the fight easier to negotiate.
Love Island winner Jack Fincham, 30, is another celeb with a boxing background, looking to get in the ring again.
But despite the list of big-money bouts on offer to Chalmers, winning a prestigious domestic belt, like the famed English or British titles, could be just as rewarding.
Chalmers said: “By all means, if Adam and I thought in two or three years time, I was ready, then 100 per cent I would never shy away from trying to earn a belt.
“For someone who started boxing at 33 years old I would f***ing love to retire with a British or English title.
“For me that is a big, big step, but we’ll see. Along with those fights, you’ve also got Jack Fincham, and other fighters in boxing we can look at.
“I’m just excited, I’m so glad it’s been announced.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
