Promoter Eddie Hearn has urged Tyson Fury to stay off social media and get the help he needs to return to health and the boxing ring.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, WBO and WBA heavyweight champion Fury confessed to taking “lots of cocaine” and revealed his depression was so severe that he was not sure if he would see the end of the year.
One of Hearn’s fighters, Anthony Joshua, is in line to take on Wladimir Klitschko after Fury twice pulled out of a rematch with the former champion.
But the Matchroom boss believes the sport would benefit from Fury recovering and getting back to world-title fights.
“I think Klitschko versus Joshua is the likely choice for the next fight but there is still a lot of work to do,” Hearn said as he promoted Ricky Burns’ world title defence in Glasgow.
“Obviously you’ve got the Tyson Fury situation with the belts. I believe he will be stripped.
“We hope he gets the right help and I want him to return to boxing, everybody does. I want Anthony Joshua to fight Tyson Fury.
“He is coming off one of the best wins from a British fighter nearly of all-time. So we want him back in the sport but I don’t want him bringing the sport into disrepute either.”
Fury appeared to announce his retirement on Twitter on Monday before claiming he had been joking.
“It feels like to me someone needs to get hold of his Twitter account and just suspend it, because it’s not helping,” Hearn said.
“One of the problems he says is because the criticism he gets and the things people say on social media. Well, come off social media. You are not going to improve on there watching what people are saying.
“Go away, spend some time away, get the help you need and if it’s what you want to do, everyone will welcome you back with wide arms.
“When he’s ready, I’m sure the big fights will be there for him still.”
The British Boxing Board of Control is set to discuss Fury’s case on October 12 and the drug revelations are sure to feature in their meeting.
Hearn said: “Maybe I look at it a little bit differently, I’m selling the sport to corporate sponsors and broadcasters and I’m trying to raise the image of the sport.
“Some people might find it refreshing that he’s so honest, but for me it’s not good for boxing.”
