Challenger warns Tyson Fury to think before he speaks amid homophobia furore
A hopeful challenger to Tyson Fury’s heavyweight champ title has warned him to watch his mouth.
Fury, who became the heavyweight champ last month, has attracted attention in recent weeks for his anti-gay views, after claiming homosexuality will bring about the end of times.
The boxer has denied having anti-gay views, but back in 2013 he was fined by £3000 by the British Boxing Board of Control for calling Lennox Lewis “100% homosexual”.
Despite his views, Fury has controversially nominated for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award – attracting criticism from both Commons leader Chris Grayling and Labour shadow minister Chris Bryant.
Today, a new interview surfaced in which Fury claims the ‘Gay Rights Act 1977’, which does not exist, was backed by supporters of legalising paedophilia.
He says that once homosexuality, paedophilia and abortion are all made legal, the world will end.
“I have newspaper evidence that suggest that the Gay Rights Act of 1977 backed in favour of paedophilia being legalised in the UK. So how dare I say that, but how dare it be on the national paper…. These are the people, these are now politicians or whatever in the country…”
In the interview, available to view below, Fury also made derogatory comments about Olympic runner Jessica Ennis-Hill, and women in general.
Challenger Anthony Joshua has warned the champ to watch his mouth and think about what he is saying.
He said: “You’ve got kids to grandmas listening to you so I think there’s a time and a place to say certain things. I think he has to think before he speaks. He has to be a bit more calculated in what he says. But he shouldn’t change who he is.
“He has always said outrageous things. But I think you should never change who you are – that’s important. People are going to like you or hate you.
“Sports and boxing are won on talent, not on personality. He’s become heavyweight champion of the world on talent so we have to give him credit but becoming heavyweight champion brings mad responsibility.”
Joshua hopes to fight Fury in 2016.
After a petition calling for his nomination to be dropped, now at 53,000 signatures, Fury has taken to Twitter – to claim he doesn’t want the award anyway.
The boxer wrote: “Hopefully I don’t win @BBCSPOTY as I’m not the best roll model in the world for the kids, give it to someone who would appreciate it [prayer emojis].”
However, he also added: “I’ve got more personality than all the other competitors put together in this years @BBCSPOTY who can compete with my sporting achievement!
“The Gypsy King, & the heavyweight champion of the world, will not be silenced I’ll always speak my mind, Like it or lump it, in Jesus name.”
Despite his comments, the BBC says it will not alter the nominations.
A spokesperson said: “The Sports Personality shortlist is compiled by a panel of industry experts and is based on an individual’s sporting achievement – it is not an endorsement of an individual’s personal beliefs either by the BBC or members of the panel.”
