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Boxing champion Tyson Fury asked the BBC to remove him from the list of finalists for the Sports Personality of the Year award.
Fury posted a video on social media saying he was “the people’s champion and I don’t need verification or any awards.”
Standing in front of his championship belts, he added: “I know who I am and what I have done in sport. People’s love is worth more to me than all the awards in the world.
“So to all my fans, please don’t vote for this. Take me off the list. All my love, Tyson Fury, the Gypsy King.”
The heavyweight champion beat undefeated Deontay Wilder in stunning fashion in February, and is one of six people on a list that includes F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and billiard great Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Fury regained the world title after struggling with his mental health, including depression and drug use that he said brought him to the brink of suicide.
His previous shortlist appearance in 2015 caused controversy, with more than 100,000 people signing a petition to have him removed from office for sexist and homophobic comments.
He finished fourth and used his moment on stage to apologize to anyone hurt for his comments, which he claimed were often “a bit ironic.”
The winner of this year’s award is decided by public vote during a special live show on December 20.
Bookies still think the 32-year-old is a good bet – he’s the second favorite along with O’Sullivan, according to PaddyPower.
Lewis Hamilton, who this year equaled Michael Schumacher’s count of seven world titles, is the favorite.
The great F1 first won the award in 2014, but this year he claimed his fourth consecutive championship.
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