Sport review 04 december 2015

 

 

 

 

Calls to remove Tyson Fury from BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist over \’homophobia\’ row

There are growing calls for new world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury to be removed from the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist over allegations of homophobia.

Fury – who defeated Wladimir Klitschko in a high-profile fight on Saturday – was accused of likening homosexuality to paedophilia in an interview with the Mail on Sunday.

The 27-year-old\’s comments sparked fury from gay rights groups and more than 30,000 people signed a petition calling on the BBC to drop Fury from the 12-strong shortlist in a matter of hours.

But the BBC told ITV News that there are currently no plans to remove Fury from the list.

 

The Mail on Sunday quoted Fury as saying: „There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the Devil comes home.

„One of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other is paedophilia.”

The boxer angrily denied making the comments but the Mail and their chief sports writer Oliver Holt stood by their piece and published audio of the interview.

Chris Bryant, the Labour MP, was among those to criticise Fury\’s comments.

„I\’m not celebrating Tyson Fury\’s win. His aggressive style of foul homophobia is precisely the kind that leads to young gay suicides,” he tweeted.

A BBC spokesperson pointed out that the Sports Personality shortlist was compiled by a panel of industry experts and based on an individual’s sporting achievement.

However, BBC added, the nomination was not an endorsement of an individual’s personal beliefs either by the BBC or members of the panel.

    The Sports Personality of the Year shortlist is decided by a panel of industry experts and reflects sporting achievement.

        As Fury became heavyweight champion of the world last weekend, the panel felt that he should be a contender for this year’s award.

        The overall winner of the award will of course be decided by viewers during the live show.

– BBC

Stonewall, the equality charity, expressed disappointment by BBC\’s decision to keep Fury as a contender for the award, telling ITV News:

    We’re extremely disappointed by this decision.

    Sportspeople,whether they like it or not, are role models – not just for their athletic ability but also for their views.

    They are looked up to and are respected bymany fans, including young people.

    We are concerned that this nomination sends a message that being homophobic is ok and feel it is wrong to celebrate someone who has made such offensive comments, regardless of their sporting prowess.

– Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall

Despite his nomination, Fury believes he has no chance of adding the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award to his title belts as he is „too controversial and outspoken”.

„I will never win Sports Personality of the Year, so there\’s no point in me thinking about it – they won\’t let me win it.I\’m too controversial and outspoken!” he told BBC 5 Live earlier this week.

„I suppose it\’s avery good thing to be nominated for Sports Personality Of The Year. There\’s been a lot of great sportspeople who have won it in the past. For me to be put in line for it, it\’s a great honour,” he added.

The sports personality of the year winner will be announced at the culmination of a liveshow staged at The SSE Arena in Belfast on December 20.

 

Floyd Mayweather’s exotic new gift

WHAT do you get a man who has everything? If you’re Russian and trying to impress boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, there’s really only one option.

A two-month old Indian tiger.

Mayweather has followed in the footsteps of another wild and successful boxing champion, Mike Tyson, by taking ownership of a fantastic feline.

He showcased his new pet on Instagram after a whirlwind trip to Russia to meet some of his European fans.

It’s a strange coincidence given UFC star Conor McGregor discussed this very issue during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel yesterday.

„Mike Tyson owned a tiger, have you considered getting a wild animal?” Kimmel asked the Irishman.

McGregor: „Mike Tyson is the man, heavyweight champ, had a damn tiger in his home.”

Kimmel: „He used to sleep in bed with the tiger.”

McGregor: „That’s insane. He was actually at my last fight, Mike Tyson, at UFC 189, so I hope he’s there (at UFC 194). If he is there — because I have honestly, truly been giving serious thought to getting an exotic animal, and a tiger would be right up there — I need to sit down and speak to Tyson. I need the pros and cons.”

Now McGregor can ask Mayweather too, if the former pound for pound champ can avoid the attention of animal activists PETA.

PETA recently asked animal control authorities to investigate whether Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant illegally owns a baby monkey.

Bryant posted a picture of the animal on Instagram last week, calling the monkey his „new best friend”.

In DeSoto, Texas, where Bryant lives, residents are prohibited from owning monkeys unless they have a permit.

„Monkeys belong in the wild — not in the hands of football players who acquire exotic animals just to make a splash on Instagram,” PETA Foundation Deputy Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet said.

„This baby capuchin was torn away from his mother shortly after birth and needs special care that can now only be provided by wildlife experts who will be able to ensure that he gets the love and attention he deserves.”

 

Wladimir Klitschko v Tyson Fury: Ringside reaction from BBC pundits

Britain\’s Tyson Fury ended the nine-year reign of Wladimir Klitschko as he claimed a unanimous decision victory to claim the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight world titles in Dusseldorf.

Here are some of the thoughts from BBC pundits who were inside the 50,000-capacity Esprit Arena to witness Fury\’s biggest night.
Mike Costello – Radio 5 Live boxing commentator

„Earlier in the week, David Haye rated Tyson Fury\’s chances as 20-1. That\’s roughly half as much as Buster Douglas was rated before he beat Mike Tyson. That just goes to show how much Tyson Fury was dismissed in so many quarters. But with the platform of an ABA national title, he turned professional in 2008 and it\’s been pretty much glory all the way.

„Tyson took some heavy punches from one of the biggest punchers in the history of the heavyweight division but he didn\’t back off. He came straight back at Wladimir Klitschko and proved everyone wrong.

„Wladimir Klitschko was beaten by Tyson and Father Time tonight. Tyson Fury has taken a massive step up in class to produce the performance of his life. British boxing is absolutely buzzing.”

Tyson Fury set to lose IBF title if he has Wladimir Klitschko rematch

Tyson Fury will vacate his IBF world heavyweight title if he has a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, the governing body has confirmed.

The 27-year-old Briton won the WBA, WBO and IBF belts by outpointing Klitschko (64-4-KO53) in Dusseldorf on Saturday but has been warned by the IBF that he must face mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov next in order to keep their strap.

„To be clear, Tyson Fury must fight Vyacheslav Glazkov next. If they agree terms before December 11 we cancel the purse bid. If it goes to a purse bid, the winning bidder has 90 days to do the fight,” IBF chairman Lindsey Tucker explained to World Boxing News.