Before these Commonwealth Games, Jon McConnell made headlines for turning down the 13th season of Love Island. Now the Northern Irishman is one win away from a medal after defeating India’s Sumit Sumit to reach the 70kg quarter-finals in Glasgow.

“I didn’t expect [the attention] at all,” he said. “Someone sent me the interview [about Love Island auditions] and I was a wee bit shocked. I didn’t even know I said half of it. It was after a sparring session and with the adrenaline I was just saying different stuff.

“Now I am just going along with it a bit; the lads were winding me up. But boxing comes first. Skills pay the bills.”

The 23-year-old had to dig deep against Sumit to secure a 4-1 victory after finding himself down early before producing a strong finish. “I came from behind; from two rounds down basically,” said McConnell, who had a point deducted. “I am proud of myself.”

Having arrived in Glasgow on Tuesday, McConnell said the days leading up to his opening contest had tested his patience. “It was a long wait to be honest with you. It was really long. It has been a week. Every day felt the same: it was wake up, training, rest. It was getting a bit monotonous. This here is what I live for.”

Earlier, Namibia’s Tryagain Morning Ndevelo also booked his place in the quarter-finals. Named after the lesson his mother instilled in him growing up, he has carried that philosophy into the ring, producing a unanimous points victory over Bangladesh’s Md Ruhin Reza in the men’s 60kg competition.

After receiving a walkover in the opening round when Trinidad and Tobago’s Anthony Joseph failed to make the call time, Ndevelo finally got the opportunity he had been craving to compete. On Sunday, Ndevelo had completed his ring walk through the smoke before discovering he was the only boxer inside the ropes. Joseph never answered the call to the ring, leaving the Namibian warming up alone before the opening bell sounded with just one fighter present.

For a boxer chasing a breakthrough at his third Commonwealth Games, it was hardly ideal preparation. “Today was nice,” he said after his fight against Reza. “I’m glad that I got to go into the ring. Got to face somebody. I can see my level.

“A lot of hard work has gone into this. So at least I finally got a chance to practise what I have been learning. I was thinking: ‘Am I really fine?’ and ‘Am I ready?’ because I didn’t get a taste. At least now I know. I don’t feel tired. I have an extra level I can get to. I was excited to have him [Reza] at least show up.”

Now, in Glasgow, he has the opportunity to take the next step, with his remarkable first name becoming one of the stories of these Games. “My mother is my whole world,” he said. “[Growing up], whenever I missed training or I was feeling down, I would be told: ‘You don’t have to miss training. Just show up. Even if you are not good, just show up.’ She has always been behind me and that itself is the definition of my name.

“Every day you wake up in the morning and you have the chance to do what you didn’t do yesterday. That is why my middle name is Morning. Tuesday, Wednesday, whenever I fight again, I have the chance to better what I did here today. That’s all from her, for giving me this name. Every time I feel low, I get up and try again.”