Tyson Fury has asked the BBC to remove him from the shortlist for the Sports Personality of the Year award.

Fury is one of six athletes in the running for the award with the winner announced on December 20.

But Fury, who is 10/1 win to win, claims he has no need for awards and would rather have the adulation of his fans.

"This is a message for the BBC and the SPOTY award," he said in a video posted online.

Tyson Fury asks the BBC to remove him from the SPOTY shortlist

"Please take me off your list, I am the people's champion and have no need for verification or any awards.

"I know who I am and what I've done in sports, the love of the people is worth more to me than any award in the world.

"To all my supporters, please don't vote for me in this and take me off the list."

How hero soldier who lost both legs in IED blast went on to para-powerlifting gold

Advertiser content from THE NATIONAL LOTTERY

Former soldier Micky Yule lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan - but he hasn't let his life-changing injuries hold him back from sporting glory. Read his inspirational story here.

Brave Micky went on to win gold as a para-powerlifting athlete at the IPC Powerlifting European Championships and was selected for the British Paralympic team, where he was able to access National Lottery funding to help cover training costs from the £30million* you raise for good causes every week by playing The National Lottery.

The 41-year-old says: "I never imagined, after my injuries, that I'd get to represent my country at the Paralympics. I could never have achieved all that I’ve done without the National Lottery funding."

*Based on figures from April 2019-March 2020.  Players must be 16+.

The BBC rejected Fury's claim and said: "The shortlist is decided by an independent expert panel who choose contenders based on their sporting achievement ... on this basis Tyson Fury will remain on the list for SPOTY 2020."

Fury was included on the shortlist for his stunning seventh-round stoppage of Deontay Wilder in February.

He became world heavyweight champion for the second time and is now set to face Anthony Joshua in a unification clash next year.

Fury finished fourth in 2015 when controversy surrounded his inclusion on the shortlist.

He had recently beaten Wladimir Klitschko to become world champion for the first time but the BBC were urged to remove him from their shortlist because of Fury's homophobic and sexist comments.

Formula One star Lewis Hamilton is the odds-on favourite to win this year's award after clinching a seventh drivers' title.

Snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, jockey Hollie Doyle and England cricketer Stuart Broad make up the shortlist.