Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has vehemently denied that he is a homophobe because he 'loves the world'.
The Manchester-born sportsman has caused controversy over the last few weeks by seemingly equating homosexuality to paedophilia in an interview.
The 27-year-old, who beat Wladimir Klitschko on points in Dusseldorf last month to be crowned world heavyweight champion, also caused controversy when he was quoted as saying that a woman's "best place is on her back".
When asked by Sky Sports News if he is a homophobe, Fury said: "No, definitely not. I wouldn't be a very good Christian if I hated anybody, would I? If Jesus loves the world, I love the world. I can actually say that I have no hate for anybody. I haven't any enemies, I don't hate any race, colour, creed, generation, nobody."
The boxer also claimed that he is "uniting" different ethnicities and religions in his team.
"My team is one of the most diverse teams amongst religions in the world of boxing. We've got Jamaicans in there, we've got Pakistanis in there, we've got Indians in there - Christians, Muslims, we're all united. What about that? Why don't they broadcast that?" he added.
"Tyson Fury is uniting the world. Uniting Christians and Muslims in a time when everything is up in the air. We don't hear about that, do we? We don't hear about the good things that I'm doing. We just hear about the comments that people want to twist and want to make me sound like I hate people and that I hate the world. I love all of God's children. We're all God's children."
A petition has been created calling for Fury to be removed from the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year shortlist.
Danielle Joynson
