WBO World middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders has provided some alarming insight into his friend Tyson Fury's current mindset.
Fury yesterday took to Twitter to announce he was retiring from boxing - an announcement which, considering his battle with mental health issues which have come to the fore in recent weeks, came as a relief to many fans.
The World heavyweight champion, however, quickly reneged on his crude retirement message, before telling fans that he was receiving help.
Good news is I'm getting the right help & I'll be back even stronger than before, try & stop me!!😀😀😀🙏🙏 God is great, blessed is Jesus.
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) October 3, 2016
Fury tested positive for cocaine less than a fortnight ago - this following the second cancellation of his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko for non-descript 'medical reasons' - and his close friend and fellow Traveller Billy Joe Saunders told Press Association that he's worried for Fury's personal safety in light of recent conversations and events:
I'm very concerned that he won't see 30 years old.
Very concerned. If the public don't get behind him, and he doesn't get the help he needs, it could affect his life and his family's lives forever.
The travelling community's behind him. But it's out of the travelling community - the press - that need to give him a breather, a pick-me-up, a pat on the back.
I'm not saying everything he's done's right - not even a 'You've done right, you've done wrong' - (he needs) a 'It'll be alright, don't worry about it, chin up'. Give him a bit of that and perhaps he might see a little bit of light, (it) might give him a little bit of confidence.
I've spoken to him, but he's down, he's very down, he's not in a mood to talk to anybody. He's mentally not there.
Nothing shocks me at the moment, because he's not mentally right. He needs help. He's in a bad place at the minute. I know him very well; extremely bad place.
Fury has always been open in his fight with depression, claiming on at least one occasion that he believes he may be bipolar or suffer a personality disorder of some description.
The World heavyweight champion is set to be stripped of his titles following his positive cocaine test, and those close to him are clear that they wish for him to receive sufficient help before even considering a return to the ring.
