BBC SPOTY 2015: Tyson Fury calls controversial comments 'tongue in cheek' during on-stage interview with Gary Lineker

The world champion boxer had made controversial comments about women, homosexuality and abortion

Tyson Fury arrives at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards (Getty Images)

During his interview on stage with Gary Lineker during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony in Belfast, Fury attempted to dismiss his recent controversial comments as "all a bit tongue in cheek".

The world champion boxer, who beat Wladimir Klitschkho to win the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles last month, had made controversial comments about women, homosexuality and abortion, and over 130,000 people signed a petition demanding he be removed from the BBC shortlist for the award.

Speaking with host Lineker on stage, Fury said:

“It’s taken me 27 years for me to get to where I am now. There are 7 billion people in the world but there’s only one heavyweight champion of the world and that’s me.”

Lineker then questioned Fury about comments he has made in recent weeks:

Fury replied: “I’ve said a lot of stuff in the past but not with any intentions to hurt anybody. It’s all a bit tongue in cheek.”

“If I said anything that's hurt anybody in the past I apologise to those people.”

More to follow...