Fury summoned to explain controversial comments

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) has summoned world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury for a hearing to explain his recent controversial comments.

The 27-year-old beat Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf last month to win the WBA, WBO and IBF world heavyweight titles, the latter of which he has since been stripped of after failing to agree to a bout with mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov.

Fury has since hit the headlines for the wrong reasons after he was quoted by The Daily Mail expressing the view that homosexuality and abortion are two of three “evils” alongside paedophilia.

Greater Manchester Police revealed they are investigating a hate crime allegation against Fury over his comments on homosexuality.

The Brit also came in for criticism for making seemingly sexist remarks, including the suggestion that Olympic and world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill “slaps up good”.

An online petition to have Fury removed from the shortlist for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award has since received over 100,000 signatures.

Fury’s comments were discussed at a BBBofC meeting on Wednesday and the world champion has been requested to attend an interview with the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom.

The Mancunian earlier stressed that he is not homophobic and deserves credit for “uniting the world”.

When asked by Sky Sports News HQ if he is homophobic, Fury said: “No. Definitely not. I wouldn’t be a very good Christian if I hated anybody. If Jesus loves the world, I love the world.

“I can actually say I haven’t got any hate for anybody. I have no enemies. I don’t hate any race, colour, creed, generation, nobody. My team is one of the most diverse teams amongst religions in the world of boxing.

“We’ve got Jamaicans in there, Pakistanis, Indians, Christians, Muslims. We are all united. Why don’t they broadcast that? ‘Tyson fury is uniting the world, uniting Christians and Muslims in a time when everything is up in the air.’

“We don’t hear about that, do we? We don’t hear about the good things I’m doing. We just hear about the comments that people want to twist and try to make it sound like I hate people and I hate the world.

“I love all of God’s children, we are all God’s children. No matter what somebody does, it’s not up to me to judge them, it’s not up to you to judge them. God will judge them.”