Tyson Fury has asked for the BBC to remove him from the running for the 2020 Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) award.
The two-time world heavyweight champion was named on a six-person shortlist for the prestigious annual honour on Tuesday, alongside reigning Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, Liverpool’s title-winning captain Jordan Henderson, jockey Hollie Doyle, England cricketer Stuart Broad and snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan.
However, Fury released a video via social media on Wednesday demanding his name be taken off the list and instructing fans not to vote for him.
“This is a message for the BBC 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,” he said.
Hi this is Tyson fury the gypsy king, this is a message for the @bbcsport and there 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 & what iv done in sport. I have the love of the people... pic.twitter.com/iwNYblTZG4
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) December 2, 2020
“I know who I am and what I’ve done in sport. The love of the people is worth more to me than all the awards in the world.
“To all of my supporters, please don’t vote on this. Take me off the list.”
Fury was nominated for the latest SPOTY award after his remarkable victory over Deontay Wilder in February.
After high-profile battles with depression and addiction, the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’ produced an incredible performance to stop undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in the seventh round of their eagerly-anticipated rematch in Las Vegas, becoming world champion for the second time in his career.
