BEVERLY HILLS, December 15, (THEWILL) –Â British professional boxer Tyson Fury has taken his row with the British Broadcasting Corporation over being nominated for Sport Personality of the Year, a notch higher.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) champion revealed that he has asked his lawyers to force the BBC to get him off the awards shortlist.
As reported by THEWILL earlier, Tyson, had asked, in a video he shared online, for the BBC to take him off the list of contenders for this year’s awards, and implored his supporters not to vote for him.
The 32-year-old is shortlisted for the award alongside Formula 1 race driver Lewis Hamilton, snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, inspiring cricketer Stuart Broad, Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson and the only female amongst them, the jockey Hollie Doyle.
Tyson revealed his legal pursuit to force the removal of his shortlisting to presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid of the “Good Morning Britain” Show.
He said; “I have asked nicely in a video to be taken off the list and they decided that they were not going to take me off the list.
“So I have had my lawyers send them a letter demanding that I am taken off the list and let’s hope they listen and take me off the list.
“I don’t need any awards from any TV stations or organisations for me to know who I am. I know who I am and I know what I’ve done, I don’t need a pat on the back and I don’t need a glass trophy.
“No disrespect to anyone but I see everyone clamouring to get on the list and I’m clamouring to get off it. I don’t need gratification from anyone.
“I’m the peoples champion and the love of the people is worth more to me than everything and I don’t need an award.”
The British broadcaster has not responded to the legal angle but in replying his initial request, a spokesperson for the BBC noted: “The shortlist is decided by an independent expert panel who choose contenders based on their sporting achievement in a given year.
“On this basis Tyson Fury will remain on the list for SPOTY 2020. As always the winner will be decided by the public voting during the live show and it is of course up to Tyson if he chooses to participate in the show.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
