FIGHTING FIT
James Argent says he was ‘inspired’ by Tyson Fury who ‘struggled with weight and drugs’ like him
JAMES Argent says he was "inspired" by Tyson Fury who "struggled with weight and drugs" like him.
The Towie star, 33, is undergoing a gastric surgery to help with his weight as he now weighs 27 stone.
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However, James says he's "inspired" by Tyson Fury - who has been open about ballooning to 28 stone amid his battle with depression, drug and alcohol abuse.
Speaking to Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Tuesday, he said: "I'm inspired by Tyson Fury, you know. He's the heavyweight champion of the world.
"He's had similar problems and demons to me in terms of drugs, in terms of drink, in terms of weight. He was morbidly obese.
"If he can turn it around and cut back and become a world champion and get his life in order... I'm not saying I'm going to go on and become a champion, but if I can have 10% of the comeback he had, that would be the dream for me."
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Last year, James admitted to The Sun he was a cocaine addict after taking the drug for seven years and suffering two near-fatal overdoses, with ex Gemma Collins calling an ambulance over fears he would die.
Tyson Fury reached 28 stone after an ankle injury as he struggled with alcohol and cocaine abuse.
He once revealed he drove his Ferrari towards a bridge at 190mph in a bid to end his life - despite being at the pinnacle of the fight game.
But the champion boxer made his comeback - eventually beating WBC boss Deontay Wilder.
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The Sun revealed last month how doctors warned James he needs to "lose weight or die".
The star ballooned to 27 stone when stopped exercising in lockdown and replaced drink and drugs with fast food.
He told The Sun last night: “I don’t want to die. An op is the only way I can lose weight.
“I see pictures of myself and it’s too upsetting. The other day I had to ask my manager to put my shoes on for me because I just couldn’t do it — my belly is too big. I can’t do up my own shoe laces.”
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He added: “I don’t want to die, it’s as simple as that. I’ve been told by doctors that I am morbidly obese and need to lose weight, but I have an eating disorder, so I can’t do it.
“I’ll either starve and work out three times a day and be really skinny, or do no exercise and eat takeaways every day.
"I can’t maintain my weight — I need help.
“Nobody is trying to stop me from having an op. Everyone knows it’s the only way I can lose weight.”
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He is torn between a bypass, which staples part of the stomach together to make it smaller, or a sleeve gastrectomy where a large section of the stomach is removed.
Both operations, which cost around £10,000 each, will reduce the amount of food he can eat.
James Argent denies he's back with Gemma Collins but admits he's 'jealous' of her 'sex tape'
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