Tyson Fury urged to quit UK and move to Ireland by fellow boxer Billy Joe Saunders

Fury's comments on homosexuality and women have cause public outrage

 

BILLY JOE SAUNDERS believes that controversial world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury s

 

hould leave Great Britain and move to Ireland.

 

Fury has courted controversy since beating Wladimir Klitschko for his WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO titles in Dusseldorf two weeks ago. The IBF has since stripped him of its crown for refusing a mandatory defence.

He also found himself in hot water for sexist and homophobic remarks.

The row continues to rumble on despite the self-styled Gypsy King trying to set the record straight.

 

Saunders - a former British, Commonwealth and European champion, who is unbeaten in 22 professional fights - believes it is because of Fury's background that the furore hasn't died down.

He said: "If I was him, I would take myself off to Ireland, base myself in Ireland and call myself Irish, instead of being British.

"I believe it's unfair and I believe it's because of his background.

 

Saunders believes Fury's background outs the public against him

 

"They look on Tyson in a different light than they do Wladimir Klitschko,

"I don't reckon it is right and I don't care what anyone says - it's because of his background.

"I feel for Tyson Fury. The British public have been completely against him."

Saunders, 26, who faces fellow traveller Andy Lee for his WBO middleweight strap in Manchester next weekend, says he has also suffered because of his background.

Saunders added: "Travellers don't get the right recognition. They never get publicity for the good things that they do - it's always the bad things. I also feel targeted.

 

"Mine and Andy's fight is a big fight in our community but we ain't going to get the publicity that we deserve. And I reckon that is because of our backgrounds.

"Tyson is a Christian man and he is going by his beliefs. If a Muslim couldn't go against his beliefs, he wouldn't be criticised.

"He is going by his beliefs. I have known him for many years. That is Tyson and that is the way that he is."

Tickets for Lee-Saunders are available for £40 from frankwarren.com or watch it live on BoxNation.