Tyson Fury is "seeking help" his trainer said on Monday after the controversial British world heavyweight champion pulled out of his title rematch with Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko for the second time.
Fury was declared "medically unfit" to fight last week. The 28-year-old champion -- who sensationally took the title off long-time holder Klitschko last year -- had already postponed the fight once this year because of an ankle injury.
Peter Fury, Tyson's uncle and trainer, said his nephew was "at an all-time low" following allegations of doping levelled against him.
"I think it's a culmination of things," Peter Fury told iFL TV. "When he won the world title, the way he was treated, he said to me: 'I came back off the boat, I picked up the paper, I expected to be celebrated.' Straight away, he said, the hate campaign started.
"He was complaining about it a lot but said: 'Okay, we've got to accept it. I've won the world title and this is how I'm treated. There's almost been a vendetta against me since I've won it'.
"On many occasions he's asked: 'What's it for? Because if I'm not being credited for the work I've done and what I've achieved, why am I bothering?'
"So I think it's created a lot of negativity in him as a person and it's just the lack of respect he's received on a global scale, it's obviously had an effect.
"I think that, because of the witch-hunt against him and recent allegations, it's put him over the edge. He said: 'If this is what boxing's doing, I don't want it'."
Peter Fury added: "He is seeking help...Basically nothing means anything.
"Everyone needs to look in the mirror at what they're doing, they're doing a lot of damage to him. He's a nice human being, Tyson, no matter what people say. He's a gentleman to everyone...and this is how he gets treated."
Peter Fury denied suggestions that Fury's fitness problems were a device to get the Klitschko rematch postponed.
"He's fought as a challenger, he's not even been rewarded financially yet," Peter Fury added.
"He was about to get rewarded as a champion and now it's all gone by the wayside. So this is not a tactic, this is reality."
Meanwhile top British promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Fury's domestic rival Anthony Joshua, questioned whether Fury would return to the ring at all.
"I believe he will be stripped of all his titles," Hearn was quoted as saying in The Times. "It's not a case of, 'Oh, that's a bit harsh', this is a business for the governing bodies and they have had enough.
"I saw a photo of him three days ago and he looked huge for a guy that was fighting in five weeks.
"They'll get a medical report, some doctor will say he's depressed. The bodies will ask the doctor, When can he fight?' That's the problem with the injury (there is no specific recovery period)."
AFP