Boxing champ Fury heading for Bothwell

The Englishman has been signed up for a sportsman’s dinner at Bothwell Bridge Hotel, organised by Frank Gilluley, boss of Mossend gym Fighting Scots.

Fury won the WBA, IBF and WBO titles when he defeated Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko in Germany last month.

But he has sparked outrage with his comments on women and homosexuals, and a petition was set up in a bid to have him removed from the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year shortlist.

However, Mr Gilluley stressed he is concerned only with bringing a sporting superstar to the area and the boxer’s views are not an issue. He expects the event on February 20 to be a sell-out.

Mr Gilluley said: “This is an opportunity for people to meet and have their photo taken with one of the great sports personalities - they don’t get much better than heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

“He might be outspoken, but we don’t get involved in what goes on outside the ring. Like him or not, he does the business and he’s great to listen to.”

Mr Gilluley said the event was arranged before Fury won the world titles, adding: “I was confident he would win.”

More than half of the 300 seats have been sold and he expects the rest to go soon.

Anyone wishing to buy a ticket should contact Fighting Scots, call 07767 636366 or e-mail [email protected]. More information is available on the Fighting Scots Facebook page.

The event follows a night Mr Gilluley organised with football hero Paul Gascoigne in Motherwell in October.