British heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury has suggested that homosexuality is equivalent to abortion and paedophilia.

The 27-year-old made the remarks in a religious rant, claiming that the legalisation of same-sex marriage and abortion is an indication that the 'devil is coming'.

Fury, who is preparing for a bout against Wladimir Klitschko, also believes that paedophilia will one day be legalised across the world.

"There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the devil comes home - one of them is homosexuality being legal in countries, one of them is abortion and the other one's paedophilia," the Daily Mail quotes Fury as saying. "Who would have thought in the 50s and 60s that those first two would be legalised?

"When I say paedophiles can be made legal, that sounds like crazy talk doesn't it? But back in the 50s and early 60s, for them first two to be made legal would have been looked on as a crazy man again."

Fury went on to claim: "People can say, 'oh, you are against abortions, you are against paedophilia, you are against homosexuality, you're against whatever', but my faith and my culture is all based on the bible.

"The bible was written a long time ago, from the beginning of time until now, and if I follow that and it tells me it's wrong, then it's wrong for me. That's just my opinion."

In September, the boxer revealed that he wants to become the MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale as a member of the Independent Party.