World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on Saturday night sought to play down his recent controversial remarks, saying: “If I am going to get in trouble for giving women compliments for wearing a dress, then what has the world come to?”
Fury - who stunned Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA, IBF and WBO belts last weekend - made outspoken comments about homosexuality in the build-up to the fight, and since then a YouTube video has emerged of the 27-year-old speaking about women and in particular Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill.
The video, published on November 25, has Fury saying that Ennis “slaps up good”, while he adds: “A woman’s best place is in the kitchen and on her back - that’s my personal belief.’’
His remarks will be on the agenda when the British Boxing Board of Control meets on Wednesday.
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Speaking in the ring at the Westcroft Leisure Centre in Carshalton on Saturday evening, he made a ham-fisted attempt to set the record straight.
“Listen, I’m the heavyweight champion of the world and people look up to me,” he said on Channel Five.
“If there’s any women in here tonight wearing dresses, I think everybody looks beautiful in a dress.
“If I am going to get in trouble for giving women compliments for wearing a dress, then what has the world come to?”
Put to him that he was the heavyweight champion of the world and his opinions carried weight, he replied: “Look, the proof is in the pudding with me. Watch this space. Don’t judge me on a couple of comments. Watch what I do.”
Fury was a controversial inclusion on the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year shortlist earlier this week despite his comments.
The BBC has so far stood firm over his place on the 12-person list, but came under increased scrutiny after Fury’s comments on Ennis-Hill.
An online petition, set up by LGBT campaigner Scott Cuthbertson, had already collected more than 40,000 signatures demanding he is removed from the list before the latest YouTube video had been widely seen, but the network does not intend to alter the initial selections.
“The Sports Personality shortlist is compiled by a panel of industry experts and is based on an individual’s sporting achievement - it is not an endorsement of an individual’s personal beliefs either by the BBC or members of the panel,” a BBC spokesperson told Press Association Sport.
Cuthbertson believes the panel are wrong to have included Fury in the first instance and feels they would be embarrassed by reneging on their decision.
“They don’t want to go through the humiliation of taking him off the list so they are coming up with any old excuse to keep him on,” he told Press Association Sport.
“As more things are coming out, accusation after accusation about homophobia and sexism, it is making a mockery of the BBC and their flagship award.”
Fury himself tweeted to say he did not want to win the award, writing: “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.”
Heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua has told Fury he needs to conduct himself better in public.
Joshua - who has been tipped to face Fury in 2016 as he continues to make his way through the ranks - does not think Fury should change, but has told him he needs to be careful what he says and when.
He told a number of national newspapers: “You’ve got kids to grandmas listening to you so I think there’s a time and a place to say certain things. I think he has to think before he speaks. He has to be a bit more calculated in what he says. But he shouldn’t change who he is.
“He has always said outrageous things. But I think you should never change who you are - that’s important. People are going to like you or hate you.
“Sports and boxing are won on talent, not on personality. He’s become heavyweight champion of the world on talent so we have to give him credit but becoming heavyweight champion brings mad responsibility.”
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The five pillars of Islam
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
The five pillars of Islam
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
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THREE
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Nayla%20Al%20Khaja%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Jefferson%20Hall%2C%20Faten%20Ahmed%2C%20Noura%20Alabed%2C%20Saud%20Alzarooni%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Thabet Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Blue Diamond, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Shoja’A Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Heros De Lagarde, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
Zayed Sustainability Prize
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Haltia.ai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202023%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Arto%20Bendiken%20and%20Talal%20Thabet%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20About%20%241.7%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self%2C%20family%20and%20friends%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
