A BOXING icon shocked the owners of a new Workington gym by wishing them well for their opening.

Undefeated world boxing champion Tyson Fury sent a video message to Empire Sports Performance Gym, which is due to hold its official opening on October 12.

Ex-professional boxer Darren Askew, his brother Nathan and friend Frank Johnston are the minds behind the project, which has seen an abandoned warehouse turned into a fully functioning gym on the Salterbeck Industrial Estate.

Darren said: “I was over the moon, I had the shakes when I was watching it. He’s also signed some gloves for us.”

It was Leigh Gregory, 40, who trains at the gym, that managed to get Fury to send the special well wishes.

Leigh plays as a forward for the Lancaster Bulldogs Wheelchair Basketball Club.

He said: “Tyson is an ambassador to the club and often comes to training and joins in. His clothing line, Gypsy King, along with Hollister sponsor the club’s kit. His involvement with Lancaster Bulldogs is for promotion of the club and the whole disability sport, not for any personal gain of his own.

“I was nervous talking to Tyson, he’s such a big sports star and when you’re sat in a wheelchair and he’s standing over you he’s a mountain. I need not have been nervous though as he is a true gentleman, very softly spoken and was only too happy to genuinely wish the gym well.”

In the video message, Fury says: “A special hello and good luck to Empire Sports Performance Gym in Workington.

“Good luck with the opening on October 12, all the best, guys, God bless.”

The opening day, offering demonstrations and a bouncy castle for children, will take place from 10am to 4pm. Special guests will be English light heavyweight champion and British title challenger Liam Conroy and Craig Watson, ex British and two-weight Commonwealth champion.

Food will be supplied by The Hungry Caterpillar, owned by Paul McGee, who was one of Darren’s sponsors when he was boxing.