World heavyweight champ Tyson Fury stripped of title

British heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has been stripped of one his world titles, less than two weeks after winning it. On 28 November Fury beat Wladimir Klitschko on points, taking the Ukrainian's WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO belts.

WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury poses with his belts. Reuters/Alex Morton

However, the International Boxing Federation confirmed it has stripped Fury of his IBF belt, after he chose to fight Klitschko in a rematch - instead of the mandatory challenger, Vyacheslav Glazkov.

Meanwhile Greater Manchester Police said they had launched a hate crime investigation concerning Fury, following comments the born-again Christian made about homosexuality in the British media.

"Homosexuality, abortion and paedophilia - them three things need to be accomplished before the world finishes," Fury is quoted as saying. "That's what the Bible tells me."

Britain's Sports Journalists' Association has withdrawn an invitation for Fury to attend its annual awards ceremony next week.

More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for him to be removed from the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist.