By Terence Dooley

When Tyson Fury sat down to do an interview with the Daily Mail prior to his win over Wladimir Klitschko few would have guessed that it would cause a media storm, lead to protests outside the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year awards show and prompt a rebuke from the BBBoC.

Naturally, the comments created a stir.  It became an even bigger issue after he beat Klitschko on points.  Multiple outlets picked up the story and there was an avalanche of opinion pieces.  Like Fury, the journalists all had a right to express an opinion, as do we all, but a few of the opinion pieces completely lacked focus, balance and critical analysis.

For example, a few writers negatively compared the 27-year-old to revered former world Champion Muhammad Ali yet failed to point out that Ali made some similar claims after converting to Islam as a young man.

We live an increasingly secular world yet there are still a lot of religious people who have eschewed the move towards a more liberal form of faith and live by the tenets of their sacred texts.

Many of these views are not in line with prevailing opinions, as we saw from the reaction to Fury’s comments; however, we live in a society in which people are free to express their views as long as they do not veer into hate speech.  People are also allowed freedom of religious expression provided that they do not try to force their faith on others.  

Fury’s views were reported to both the police and BBBoC.  The police did not take any action due to the fact that his opinions were simply that and not actionable in any way.  The Board took a similar approach, stating that: ‘Tyson Fury has made comments in the media that have caused offence to members of our society.

‘However, there is no suggestion that he has broken the law by exercising his right to freedom of expression.  In such circumstances, the Stewards of the British Boxing Board of Control have been advised that it cannot interfere with his basic human rights.

‘Having said that, the Stewards of the Board have made it clear to him that as World Heavyweight Champion, arguably the holder of the most prestigious title in sport, there are heavy responsibilities upon him to avoid making controversial, non-boxing comments.  He has assured the Stewards that he understands the responsibilities upon him and has expressed regret that he has caused offence to others, which was never his intention.’

The statement was met with approval by Stonewall, who campaign on behalf of gay rights.  They also released a statement: ‘It's encouraging to see official sports bodies investigate Tyson's use of homophobic language and remind him of his responsibility as a role model.  All sportspeople are role models, whether they like it or not.

‘Sport is unfortunately somewhere that LGBT often don't feel represented or welcome—and it's vital that changes.  We'd welcome Tyson to come and talk to us at Stonewall.’

Peter Fury, the world Champion’s uncle and trainer, has told BoxingScene that his nephew was expressing religious views and is not in any way homophobic, arguing that the 6' 9'' boxer was not acting maliciously.

“I did see it as a witch hunt, they knew exactly what Tyson said and put it on him,” he argued.  “Some of the things he says are tongue in cheek, like the mum being in the kitchen—he was referring jokingly to his wife, who I believe was there when he made those comments.

“Tyson is always joking, all his life it hasn’t been a problem until now.  You just laugh when he talks like that because you know that’s not Tyson, but now he’s the world champion they print it all and say: ‘Look what he’s said now, look at what he means’. I suppose they have to sell papers, good luck to them.

“How can he be homophobic?  If you’re homophobic you can’t stand to have a homosexual anywhere near you, you’d speak about them with resentment.  That’s not what he’s done.  Tyson was saying what his beliefs are and what’s in the Bible, we don’t go around saying stuff to people.

“People have got their own free will to live their life, so it’s not for us to judge anyone.  It says that in the Bible.  It’s for God to judge, not humans.  We go off what the Bible says, but as for being homophobic that’s ridiculous.  Of course we meet gay people.  We meet people everywhere.  We’re in society like everyone else.”

Tyson has promised the Board that he will not stick to talking about boxing in future.  However, and despite the recent storm, Fury has no plans to go for media training anytime soon.

“It is all ifs and buts, we grew up as travellers but are not begging for acceptance—I don’t care about that and neither does Tyson,” stated Fury.  “He is a boxer, the best in the world, the outside stuff goes into politics, opinions, newspapers and all the stuff we’re not interested in.  The nuts and bolts of it is that we’re boxing people who are interested in achieving things in that world.  The only reason these conversations came about is because he became a world champion.

“I don’t give a sh*t what people think.  I don’t care about opinions because they’re false.  It is all rubbish, not factual, and then you have fabricated stuff from people who don’t even know us.  People who have known us for thirty plus years matter because the friends I had 30-years ago are the friends I have today.  People that know us as a family respect us just as we love and respect them.  It’s sticks and stones, we’re not bothered by strangers who are jumping on a bandwagon.

“Tyson does his own thing, speaks from his own mouth and he laughs and jokes.  What you’ve got is a real champion.  Tyson gets flack for not having a key in his back and getting told what to say.  No one has ever met Tyson and said he’s a d*ckhead.  He’s nice to be around, good natured and with a heart of gold—that’s the reality of who he is.  The media and general public have a lot to say, but they don’t even know the man.

“Tyson sometimes says stuff to the media to joke and wind them up.  They don’t see the real Tyson anyway.  Take him outside of boxing and it is all fun and games.  Look at history, Muhammad Ali was never given credit for a lot of his career.  He was outspoken yet has gone down as the greatest of all time.”

Fury received support from an unlikely source.  He has had some Twitter digs at Liverpool’s Tony Bellew in the past yet the cruiserweight contender defended his fellow professional during an interview with iFilm London.  Bellew and others have said that Fury could have expressed himself differently before pointing that he did not direct hurtful comments towards any one individual.

“Tony has met Tyson, he knows us and that Tyson said some tongue-in-cheek stuff,” said Fury when acknowledging Bellew’s support.  “Tyson is a gentleman, he wishes everybody well.  I don’t think there’s a boxer on the planet that he doesn’t like, it’s all for the media.”

Prior to the fight, Fury prayed with the Muslim members of Team Fury.  The image of two major faiths in unison at a time when the politicisation of Islam is a major worldwide concern became lost in the controversy.  “The Muslims have one God, the same one we have, so they’re God-fearing people that we respect very highly,” said Fury when asked about their mixed faith team.

“We don’t see ourselves as this, that or the other—we just want to live by the Bible and follow our path.  It takes all sorts, that’s who we are and what makes us human.  We’re just trying to toe the line.  If someone else wants to toe a different one then that’s another matter.”

As a society, we have to collectively square the circle of living in a liberal world alongside people who still have beliefs that stem from traditional religious texts.  Dialogue needs to take place on both sides and comments placed into context.  Many within boxing disagreed with Fury whilst defending his right to express himself.

The issue itself was too big for the British press to address, especially the sporting section of the press, so it was no surprise that a lot of the articles either lacked analysis and content or portrayed boxing in a negative light without shining a torch on football, the once “beautiful game” that has become very ugly.  The original article could and maybe should have done this, the follow up ones certainly should have.

As Kenan Malick said: ‘Whatever one’s beliefs, secular or religious, there should be complete freedom to express them, short of inciting violence.  Whatever one’s beliefs, there should be freedom to assemble to promote them.  And whatever one’s beliefs, there should be freedom to act upon those beliefs, so long as, in so doing, one neither physically harms another individual nor transgresses that individual’s rights in the public sphere.  These should be the fundamental principles by which we judge the permissibility of any belief or act, religious or secular.’ [‘Religious Freedom, Secular Forum’, New York Times Jan. 12 2014]

The storm is over, though, so the Furys can turn their collective attention to getting back down to work ahead of the  Klitschko rematch.  Peter told me that things have been going well since they welcomed John Fury, Tyson’s father, back into the fold following a stretch in prison.

“It’s been great, it couldn’t be better,” he said.  “John is home, you don’t want to see your family in trouble or in despair and he’s a big part of the team.  That’s what boxing does, it brings families together.

“It makes me very happy because it’s not one of those jobs where you don’t see your family all day.  We’re together in a happy environment.  I’m in a privileged position thanks to Tyson and my son (Hughie), without them I wouldn’t be involved so I give them all the credit in the world.”

He added: “I am very proud, no one knows what we will do on this planet, we just do the best we can and don’t know what tomorrow brings.  To be on the top of the world with my brother’s son is an amazing thing.”

Please send news and views to @Terryboxing.