The ongoing debate surrounding trans athletes participating in women’s sports continues to be a contentious issue, with former professional boxer Tony Bellew weighing in on the matter. Bellew has cited boxing legend Mike Tyson as an example to bolster his argument against the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s competitions.
Bellew, in an interview with Instant Casino, expressed his disagreement with the trend of transgender individuals competing against biological women. He argued that it is “unfair” and cited the stark physical differences between men and women, using Serena Williams and Tyson as examples.
“I mean, if Mike Tyson was to come out tomorrow and say, ‘I now identify as a woman and I’m going to go in the heavyweight division.’ You would just go, ‘this is just wrong’,” Bellew told gbnews.
The former boxer’s comments come as the Paralympics are set to feature a trans athlete competing against biological females. Bellew’s stance reflects a broader concern among some sports figures over the fairness and integrity of women’s competitions in the face of transgender participation.
Bellew acknowledged the complexity of the issue, saying, “It’s what people want to identify. I’ve got no problem with whatever you want to identify as. That’s sound, you do that, but don’t force yourself on somebody else.”
However, he emphasized the need to “protect sport all together,” arguing that the physical differences between men and women make it unfair for transgender athletes to compete against biological females. Bellew’s use of Tyson as an example highlights the perceived imbalance that could arise if a high-profile male athlete were to transition and compete in women’s sports.
DNC is reportedly ongoing and opting to stay away from issues related to inclusion due to the fact 69% of Americans believe one should compete with the gender matching their genes.
