Tyson Fury, the world heavyweight boxing champion, has attempted to apologise for an antisemitic rant in an online video.

The Manchester-born fighter claimed Jews “own all the banks, all the papers, all the TV stations” during a question and answer session posted on YouTube earlier this month.

He claimed “media scrutiny” was partly to blame for his racist comments.

As well as attacking homosexuals and claiming bestiality would be legal within a decade, Mr Fury had said people could be “brainwashed by all the Zionist, Jewish people who own all the banks, all the papers all the TV stations. Be brainwashed by them all”.

Speaking yesterday, the boxer said: “I said some things which may have hurt some people - which as a Christian man is not something I would ever want to do.

"I apologise to anyone who may have taken offence at any of my comments.

"Though it is not an excuse, sometimes the heightened media scrutiny has caused me to act out in public.

"I know more is expected of me as an ambassador of British boxing and I promise in future to hold myself up to the highest possible standard.

"Anyone who knows me personally knows that I am in no way a racist or bigot and I hope the public accept this apology."