WBC world heavyweight boxing champion, Tyson Fury has asked organisers of the BBC’s Sports Personality Award, to remove his name from the list of nominees. This he said, because he does not believe in the award, as he is the ‘People’s Champion’, and does not need an award to confirm that.
Tyson Fury who called off what would have been his third fight with former WBC boxing champion, Deontay Wilder, took to his Instagram Live to ask for his name be removed from the BBC’s Sports Personality award for the year. He also urged his fans not to vote for him in the award, saying:
‘This is a message for BBC Sport and their SPOTY award – please take me off your list as I’m the people’s champion and have no need for verification or any awards.
‘I know who I am and what I’ve done in the sport. I have the love of the people which means more to me than all the awards in the world. To anyone who supports me, don’t vote.
The world heavyweight champion was named as the sixth and final contender for the BBC’s Sports Personality award on Tuesday, which comes after his epic victory against Deontay Wilder in February.
Fury joined favourite Lewis Hamilton on the list, as well as Jordan Henderson, Stuart Broad, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Hollie Doyle.
This year’s awards show is due to take place on Sunday, December 20 in Salford, Manchester.
After his nomination was announced for the 2015 award, following his memorable triumph over Wladimir Klitschko, around 140,000 people signed a petition claiming that his views on homosexuality and paedophilia should disqualify him.
Comments he made before the Klitschko fight, in which he denounced abortion and homosexuality, were heavily criticised after he said their legalisation would bring forth a biblical reckoning.
Fury ultimately came forth five years ago said at the ceremony: ‘I’ve said a lot of stuff in the past and none of it is with intentions to hurt anybody.
‘I apologise to anyone that’s been hurt by it.’
Fury’s next fight in 2021 is yet to be confirmed, with a trilogy bout against Deontay Wilder seemingly now off the table. But his fight with Anthony Joshua could still go ahead, as Joshua himself prepares to take on Kubrat Pulev in his first fight of the year on December 12.