Tyson Fury calls those who signed BBC SPOTY award petition as 'w******'

Some have called for the heavyweight world champion to be removed from the list of nominees due to his controversial comments

Tyson Fury

(GETTY IMAGES)

World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has taunted his rivals for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award by claiming he has more character than all of them put together.

Fury was controversially nominated for the BBC's flagship sport award, and an online petition set up by LGBT campaigner Scott Cuthbertson has already collected more than 50,000 signatures demanding that he is removed from the list over his outspoken comments about homosexuality.

Fury, who stunned Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA, IBF and WBO belts last weekend, insists he would be the only worthy winner even if he has little interest in the award.

He also took a thinly-veiled swipe at Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and Davis Cup winner Andy Murray.

In a YouTube video for IFL TV, Fury said: "I can honestly say I'm not really interested in winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

"I know for a million per cent I've got more personality in the end of my little finger than the whole of the nomination group put together. And everybody knows. Everybody in the country knows that.

"I've got more personality in my little toe than they've all got put together so if it comes to personality there's only one winner. If it comes to sporting achievements there's only one winner.

"What personality does it take to drive a car around a track 100 times or hit a ball back and forth. That's not very personality is it?"

And when questioned about the petition demanding his removal from the nominations, Fury added: "50,000 w*****s. That's what I say about them. If anybody else wants to add to them they can add to their numbers can't they.

"Give it to someone else. Give it to whoever has got the best personality of all of us!

"People should look up to me. Young kids. I am a good role model. I'll show them how men should really be. And kids can take note from that. I am a good role model. Lots of kids look up to me.

"This week has taught me that when you're at the top of the world everybody wants to bring you down. But they're never going to do it."

The 27-year-old also reiterated his views on women after earlier saying that Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill "slaps up good" and "looks good in a dress", adding that "a woman's best place is in the kitchen and on her back".

(2015 Getty Images)

He said in the latest interview: "I'm a little bit backward. I didn't really go to school. Which part of a woman looks good in a dress is sexist?

"Or was it about the cooking and cleaning? I stand up for my beliefs. My wife's there (standing alongside Fury). Her job is cooking and cleaning and looking after these kids. That's it.

"She does get to make some decisions. What she's going to cook me for tea in a bit when I get home. That's the decisions what she gets to make. That's my beliefs, just like I believe in Lord Jesus Christ as my lord and saviour and if anyone wants to dispute that let them do it.

"My belief is that my wife should be at home looking after my kids and cooking and cleaning. She's a very privileged woman to have a husband like me. Not everyone's in her position but the ones who are are very lucky. That's my opinion."

:: Nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award: Jessica Ennis-Hill, Andy Murray, Tyson Fury, Lewis Hamilton, Chris Froome, Mo Farah, Kevin Sinfield, Adam Peaty, Lucy Bronze, Max Whitlock, Greg Rutherford, Lizzie Armitstead.