World heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has confirmed that he will attend this year's Sports Personality of the Year awards despite the controversy surrounding his nomination.
Fury was put up for the award alongside 11 other athletes having won the WBA, IBF and WBO titles from long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko last month.
However, more than 130,000 people have signed a petition calling for Fury to be removed from the nominees following the 27-year-old's controversial comments on homosexuality and abortion, comparing them to paedophilia.
Fury was also heavily criticised for comments made about fellow contender Jessica Ennis-Hill, but the BBC has so far refused to bow to public pressure.
A statement from Fury's promoter today confirmed that the boxer will be in attendance, saying: "Tyson Fury WILL attend this Sunday's BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, despite weeks of controversy surrounding his nomination."
Fury has since been stripped of the IBF title having opted for a rematch with Klitschko instead of facing mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov.
Barney Corkhill
