LOVE ISLAND winner Jack Fincham is ditching crisps to earn a belt – not a packet – in his new boxing career.
The snack-loving hunk has ditched his favourite Walkers for long runs and brutal sparring sessions while dreaming of a little-known Southern Area title.
Because long before boxing’s money-grabbing sanctioning bodies were inventing belts to hire and YouTube influencers were promising to dethrone bonafide champions, the former pen salesman was a proper amateur boxer with honest, modest dreams.
And now the Eltham ABC graduate, who makes his pro debut with the new Boxxer promotional banner in November after winning 18 of his 26 amateur bouts, has a second chance to fulfil his potential.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport – who will be following Fincham’s admirable journey from Spanish villa to potential Manilla Thrilla every Wednesday in a six-part series on our YouTube channel – the 26-year-old said: “I am not doing this for the money.
“Obviously I will get paid but I grew up in the sport and know there are easier ways to make a living.
“I know all about the weight cutting and 6am runs and sparring beatings so this isn’t a novelty to me.
“The biggest shock to my system will be giving up crisps – even more than a night out, it’s not normal how much I eat them.”
Jack , who won series four of Love Island with ex Dani Dyer in 2018, added: “I want to better myself, fulfil the potential I showed as a teenager and – if I am being honest – a Southern Area title would be amazing to reach.
“Casual boxing fans might not even know about that title but I remember boxers winning it in my gym when I was a kid and it was like they had won a world title.
“An area title is a major achievement that some boxers spend their whole career fighting for, not usually on the TV or with a lot of attention.
“But it would mean the world to me and I am actually going to make the belt my screensaver after this interview to give me something to aim for.”
Fincham’s last fight came and went quietly two years ago and did nothing to reignite his love for the hurt business.
But he has just completed two weeks with Tyson Fury’s former trainer Ben Davison – working alongside unified super-lightweight king Josh Taylor – and is champing at the bit to prove he is so much more than the cuddly one from the hit dating show.
The 5ft 11in Kent heartthrob, who has a baby daughter Blossom with NHS worker Casey Ranger, will make his pro bow at the light-heavyweight limit of 12st 7lbs against an as yet unnamed opponent.
But he has vowed to shed more bulk to compete down at the 12st of super-middle.
“There was a running joke in the villa that I was the only one who didn’t have abs and a six-pack,” he remembered.
“But I am on my way now and I might line all the old lads up once I reach my target and show them who’s boss.
“In the villa I used to do pads but the producers would make us stop because the sound of the leather whacking would drown out all the conversations.
“I am looking forward to showing people what I can do, I am looking forward to surprising people and maybe myself.
“When I hit around 16 I started working and enjoying my wages and weekends and that does not blend with boxing so I gave up.
“But I have always loved the sport, I have great friends in the sport like Archie Sharp – a future world champion in my eyes – and Prince Patel, so I am not taking this lightly.”
