EAST Lothian’s undisputed world champion boxer Josh Taylor has hit back at the BBC after his name was left off the shortlist for this year’s Sports Personality of the Year Award (SPOTY).

Taylor, 31, who floored Jose Ramirez twice in Las Vegas to score a unanimous points victory back in May, became the first British man to claim the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO titles simultaneously since the four-belt era officially began in 2004.

But despite his historic success this year, the Prestonpans boxer was snubbed from the six-person shortlist.

US Open champion Emma Raducanu won the award on Sunday evening; the young tennis star had been joined on the shortlist by diver Tom Daley, boxer Tyson Fury, swimmer Adam Peaty, footballer Raheem Sterling and Paralympic cyclist Dame Sarah Storey.

Taylor took to Twitter after the shortlist was announced and said: “May 22, 2021. First person in the UK to become undisputed world boxing champion in the four-belt era and hold all the championship belts.

“History maker, shove yer SPOTY right up your a***.”