New heavyweight champion Tyson Fury tweeted Friday that he is not a good role model for kids after a video surfaced in which he makes sexist remarks.
In the video, which was posted on YouTube Nov. 25, Fury was asked about women in boxing and sports in general. As for female boxers, he said: "It's up to everybody what they want to do. I'm all for it; I'm not a sexist. I believe if a man can to go work all his life a woman can. Who am I to say 'don't do that 'cause you're a girl?' But I believe a woman's best place is in the kitchen and on her back. That's my personal belief. Making me a good cup of tea -- that's what I believe."
Fury, who stunned Wladimir Klitschko in Germany on Saturday, had already been under fire for homophobic slurs he made in the past. In an interview with the Daily Mail on Nov. 8 he said: "There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the devil comes home. One of them is homosexuality being legal in countries; one of them is abortion; and the other is pedophilia."
A petition then sprung up on Change.org asking the BBC to remove him as a candidate for Sports Athlete of the Year. It has 45,000 signatures to date. The BBC had responded that they would not change their shortlist, that his eligibility is based on his sports performance. On Friday, Fury tweeted that he hopes he doesn't win the award.
Hopefully I don't win @BBCSPOTY as I'm not the best roll model in the world for the kids, give it to someone who would appreciate it, 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
— Gypsy King (@Tyson_Fury) December 4, 2015When initially asked about women in boxing during the interview posted on YouTube, Fury focused on the women who carry round cards in the ring, not fighters.
"I think they are very nice when they're walking around that ring holding them cards," he said. "I like them actually; they give me inspiration when I'm tired and I see them wiggling around with their Round 2, Round 8. I think women in boxing is very good."
Fury was also asked about British heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, who is the reigning Olympic and world champion.
"That's the runner isn't it?" he replied. "I think she's good. She's won quite a few medals for Britain, she [cleans up] good as well, when she's got a dress on she looks quite fit."
