Britain’s world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury should be banned from boxing for his “Hitler like” comments, former champion Wladimir Klitschko has said, as the two prepare to face off in a re-match in Manchester next month.

Fury, 27, who beat Klitschko to take the WBA, WBO and IBF belts in November last year, caused controversy when he made homophobic, sexist and anti-Semitic comments in a video posted online last month.

Though Fury has since apologised for the remarks, Ukrainian Klitschko said the sport would be better off without a champion like Fury.

“I was in shock at his statements about women, the gay community, and when he got to the Jewish people he sounded like Hitler. The man is an imbecile. Seriously,” Klitschko said.

“You cannot put it all together as a representation of the sport of boxing. He’s an imbecile champion.

“We cannot have a champion like that. Either he needs to be shut up or shut down in the ring, or just suspended, because you cannot create more hate.”

Fury faces Klitschko for the WBA and WBO titles on July 9.

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