Meanwhile, amid a police investigation into Fury’s comments by Greater Manchester Police, the Sports Journalists’ Association has also withdrawn its invitation to the boxer to attend the British Sports Awards in London next week.
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The 27-year-old, who beat Wladimir Klitschko on points in Dusseldorf last month to be crowned world heavyweight champion, also caused controversy when he was quoted as saying that a woman’s “best place is on her back”.
His recent comments on homosexuality certainly earned him some backlash, but probably some that he didn’t expect as Greater Manchester Police say they’ve received a report of a hate crime stemming from those comments.
Fury has claimed he is not interested in winning the BBC prize, insisting he has “more personality in the end of my little finger” than his shortlisted rivals, and insisting heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill “slaps up good” and “looks quite fit” in a dress.
“Let’s not try and make me out to be some evil person and I hate gays”, said Tyson.
The heavyweight world champion, who has been stripped of one of his three world title belts, has claimed he is misunderstood in a lengthy interview with Sky Sports News.
Fury took to Twitter on Wednesday, publishing a picture of him celebrating victory over Klitschko that carried the message: “Take my belts, sign your petitions, but you will never take this night from me”.
Gay former police officer Ian Sawyer revealed he was behind an official complaint to GMP that Fury has “incited hatred towards homosexuals” with controversial comments in the media.
Fury said that among the things that need to happen “before the devil comes home…is homosexuality being legal in countries”. “That is the insulting thing to me”.
“I’m not actually for removing him, I’m simply for people of good conscience not voting for him”. “He added: “Our challenger was Vyacheslav Glazkov, but instead Fury’s gone and signed a rematch clause with Wladimir Klitschko”.
Mr West says he has written to the BBC director general, Tony Hall, over Fury’s nomination.
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There have been calls for him to be removed from the SPOTY shortlist and he has been criticised by another nominee, Greg Rutherford, who threatened to pull out of the awards show as he did not want to be included on the same stage as the boxer.
