WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has urged Tyson Fury not to do anything "silly" following his recent peculiar behaviour.
Fury pulled out of his WBO and WBA heavyweight title defence against Wladimir Klitschko for a second time due to medical reasons last month, while on Friday it was reported that the Brit had tested positive for cocaine.
Fury's erratic behaviour continued yesterday as he announced his retirement from the sport before claiming that it was a joke just hours later, causing Bellew to grow concerned about his mental welfare.
"I think it is very, very sad, he has got a mental illness, without a shadow of a doubt. I know Tyson and his father and his uncle. They are some very good people, who I know, honest men, straight people. I am not condoning what Tyson Fury has done. If this cocaine thing is true, then it is absolutely disgusting what he has done. He deserves a long ban," he told PA.
"I feel for him at this moment in time, I really do. There are clear reasons why he is doing what he is doing and I can only wish him well and pray to god that he comes out on the other side of this safely. It's just sad, this lad is a father and husband. He has got people who care about him very much. His wife loves him, his children need him, I just hope that he comes home safe and does nothing silly because in the frame of mind he is in at the minute, he's not stable and they are worrying times.
"He is doing a few foolish things, it is sad. I believe the media set out with an agenda the minute he became a rich man, they set out to destroy him and they have done it. He has contributed to a lot of that himself with the actions he has taken, the things he does on Twitter - it is stupid. He will look back at this when he grows up and he will be ashamed of himself. But ultimately we need to put that on the back burner and get him what he needs, which is help. Don't snarl or turn your nose up to people with mental health problems."
Bellew will defend his cruiserweight title against BJ Flores on October 15.
