Boxer Josh Taylor tells BBC to “shove SPOTY up your a***” after ‘snub’

Undisputed super-lightweight champion Taylor has hit out at the BBC after they failed to include him in the shortlist of nominees for the Sports Personality of the Year award

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Sports Personality of the Year: Who’s on the shortlist?

Josh Taylor has hit out at the BBC after he was left off the shortlist for the Sports Personality of the Year award.

The Scottish sensation has had a tremendous year defeating Jose Ramirez to become the undisputed super-lightweight world champion.

However he has been left out of the nominees for the SPOTY award by the broadcasting organisation with Tyson Fury the only fighting star present.

Taylor has since reacted angrily on Twitter to the list, when he wrote : “May 22nd 2021. First person In the UK to become undisputed world boxing champion in the four-belt era & hold all the championship belts. History maker, shove your SPOTY right up a***.”

His angry reaction follows that of Fury who had threatened to hit the BBC with a lawsuit after they nominated him for the prestigious award.

Tennis star Emma Radacanu is the odds-on favourite to receive the award and was nominated alongside the likes of Olympian Tom Daley, Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling and Adam Peaty.

Taylor made history with his victory in Las Vegas and will defend his belts for the first time next year against fellow domestic star Jack Catterall.

He remains undefeated during his professional career and has made a meteoric rise to the top of the sport, ranked as one of several experts pound-for-pound top ten fighters.

Next he will face Catterall on home turf in Glasgow next year after the initial date was postponed due to the champion suffering a knee injury in training.

He is confident of securing his latest victory against an opponent he “respects” after the Englishman stepped aside to allow Taylor to challenge for all the marbles.

Do you think Josh Taylor should have been nominated for the SPOTY award? Let us know your list of nominees in the comments section below

“He’s a very good fighter, he’s been knocking on the door for world titles for a couple years now,” Taylor said. “He stepped aside to let me fight [Jose] Ramirez, but it wasn’t all out of the good of his heart.

“He knows by stepping aside he gets a shot at all the belts, at the lottery. It’s my job to make sure he doesn’t get anywhere near it, and he won’t. If the fight were next week, I’d be ready.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Jack, he knows that, but as for now: He’s my enemy, I hate his guts. He’s a great guy, but we put the fondness aside now.

“If the stoppage is there, I’ll take it. I’m a good finisher when someone’s hurt, but I’m not gonna go looking for it.”