Boxers choose Commonwealths over Love Island chance
Northern Irish boxers Jon McConnell and Kaci Rock opted to compete in the Commonwealth Games instead of appearing on the reality TV show Love Island, despite progressing in auditions.
Two members of Northern Ireland's 12-strong boxing team, Jon McConnell and Kaci Rock, will compete in this year's Commonwealth Games for the first time. They had earlier progressed through initial auditions for the latest series of Love Island but pulled out because the TV show clashed with the Games.
McConnell, who recently competed at the World Boxing Cup in Brazil, will fight in the light-middleweight division on Monday against India's Sumit Sumit. Rock, from Holy Trinity, will face Niue's Karen Te Ruki Pasene in welterweight action the following day.
The reality TV show Love Island, hosted by Maya Jama, has just completed its 13th series in Mallorca. McConnell, 23, said: "I used to spend a lot of time watching Love Island with the team. It was never really my idea at first, but Kaci mentioned it and said she'd put my name forward as well. I got through a few stages of the process but then I got selected for the Commonwealth Games."
