Tyson Fury threatens to sue BBC if he is nominated for Sports Personality of the Year after epic Wilder win
TYSON FURY has threatened legal action against the BBC if he is nominated for Sports Personality of the Year.
Fury is fourth favourite for the award and expected to be shortlisted when it is announced next week.
But it is the second year in a row that he has requested to be omitted from the competition and is ready to take legal action against the BBC.
Fury, 33, told The Telegraph: “It means nothing to me and I don’t need it or want it.
“In fact, they will hear from my solicitors if they do put me on the list. Give it to someone who needs it. I don’t.
“And, anyway, we know who the sports personality of the year is anyway – it’s me.
“I am the sports personality. Who does what I do, goes through a war in Las Vegas, entertains the fans, and then sings to the audience?”
Lewis Hamilton was last year’s SPOTY winner after becoming a seven-time Formula One champion.
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That was despite Fury’s seventh-round stoppage win over Deontay Wilder, 36, in their rematch.
But this October the heavyweight rivals put on a thriller in their trilogy bout.
Fury got up from the floor twice, scored three knockdowns of his own and closed the show in round 11.
Rising tennis star Emma Raducanu is favourite for this year’s SPOTY with Tom Daley, Adam Peaty and Hamilton also in the running.
The BBC last year declined Fury’s request to be taken out of the running and made public their intention to keep him on the list.
His relationship with SPOTY took a hit in 2015, when a petition demanding his removal drew 100,000 signatures after sexist and homophobic remarks.
Fury still attended the ceremony that year, having stunned Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
And in 2018, he was omitted from the list despite his epic draw with Wilder in only his third comeback fight after almost three years out of the ring.
Fury said: “They wouldn’t give it to me and give me credit if I won 50 world title belts from the people who put it on, and I don’t care.
“I should have won it three times already. I’ve got my wife and my kids. That’s all the awards I need. I’ll sue [the BBC] if they put me on.”