Friday 7 October 2016 11:32, UK
Deontay Wilder has admitted he feels sympathy for Tyson Fury and urged his troubled heavyweight rival to stay away from social media.
The Mancunian's future has been thrown into doubt after he reportedly failed a drug test and declared his retirement from boxing on Twitter, only to retract his announcement a few hours later.
WBC champion Wilder was sad to hear about the 28-year-old's troubles outside the ring, which could see him stripped of the WBA and WBO belts.
Both men have exchanged heated words on social media in the past, but 'The Bronze Bomber' has advised Fury to seek privacy as he deals with his personal problems.
"I've been hearing about that and I feel sorry for Tyson Fury - I really do," Wilder told World Boxing News. "Personally, I think Tyson Fury is a great guy.
"If I could talk to him, I would just tell him my prayers are really, really for him and his family. I hope he can come out of this and recover.
I stay off different networks and the blogs because I don't care what people are saying if it's bad.
"I would also tell him to stay off the social media as I know people can say very harsh words and it can drive you crazy.
"You know, back in the day we never had social media so we didn't have to worry about the internet. People worrying about comments and stuff like that.
"Sometimes when you have people bashing you all the time, it can drive you crazy. That's why I rarely read things about myself on social media. I stay off different networks and the blogs because I don't care what people are saying if it's bad."
Fury climbed into the ring to issue a challenge just minutes after the Alabama man had stopped Artur Szpilka in January, and Wilder still hopes the fight will go ahead at some stage in the future.
"I hope he comes back because me and him have unfinished business," said Wilder. "I would still like a fight with him and I think that would be a big fight, so may God be with him."
