Professional boxer Sam Gilley has revealed the extraordinary story of his friendship with pop star Olly Murs, which began with a sick bucket and a determination to test the singer's limits. This unlikely bond will be on full display tonight as Murs cheers on Gilley from ringside at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
From the Gym to the Ringside
Three years ago, Gilley, who was working as a personal trainer alongside his boxing career, put Murs through a gruelling session. Gilley fully expected the 'Troublemaker' singer to be sick, even placing a bucket in front of him. To his astonishment, Murs not only survived the punishing workout but kept coming back for more, forging a firm friendship with the fighter in the process.
Tonight, that friendship takes centre stage as Gilley faces Ishmael Davis for the British and Commonwealth super-welterweight titles. The bout is a key feature on the high-profile undercard of the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn rematch. Murs will be in the crowd, emotionally supporting his friend and trainer in the biggest fight of his career.
The Session That Forged a Bond
Recalling their first meeting, Olly Murs explained his motivation. "I'd always wanted to box so I did a session with Sam," the singer said. "I told him to work me as hard as he could. I wanted to know what it was like to be in a proper boxing gym. So he tried to destroy me and put me through some of the hardest training sessions I've ever done."
Gilley admitted his initial strategy. "He put a bucket in front of me and told me I was going to be sick and that was it," Murs added with a laugh. "I loved it and kept coming back to be punished - and I’ve never used the bucket."
For Gilley, the pop star's resilience was a genuine surprise. "You can't train people too hard because they won't come back," Gilley stated. "You do think, this is a pop star, I'd better go easy on him, but he was the fittest client I’d had. I was trying to hurt him but he kept coming back."
An Unlikely Champion in the Family
While Gilley confesses that Murs's music isn't his first choice for gym motivation, the singer has won over a far more important critic. The fighter's mother is such a big fan that a picture of her with Murs has pride of place on her fridge, reportedly displacing photos of her own son.
"My mum loves him so I've always liked his music," Gilley said. "I took my mum to one of his concerts and there's now a picture of them together on her fridge; I don't think there's even one of me there!"
Now, as Gilley prepares to walk out in front of a potential 60,000 fans, his most famous client understands the magnitude of the moment. While accustomed to performing for sell-out crowds himself, Murs acknowledges the unique pressure of a title fight. The experience has even inspired the singer to consider his own foray into the ring.
"This is the first year I'm going to start sparring and doing it properly," Murs revealed. "We've had some honest chats and at the end of the day, if Sam said, 'I'll be honest, you're shocking', then I wouldn't do it. But the idea of getting in the ring with someone for three or four rounds for charity is something that's in my soul."
For now, however, all focus is on Gilley's championship ambitions. The fight night, set for Saturday, November 15 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, represents a career-defining opportunity for the boxer, backed by the unwavering support of his pop star friend.
