Trainer: 'Tyson Fury will resume boxing career next year'

The uncle and trainer of Tyson Fury has claimed that the world heavyweight champion is willing to relinquish his WBA and WBO belts but is already preparing for his return to the ring at some point next year.

The 28-year-old has twice withdrawn from a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko due to mental health issues and recently admitted that he has taken cocaine to deal with depression.

Fury is likely to give up his titles, but the unbeaten Englishman was quick to overturn his temporary retirement decision last week and he could now be on the comeback trail for a return to the sport after an 11-month absence.

"It's driven him to despair," Peter Fury told BBC Sport. "I see him being back in the gym in March or April. He'll resume his career.

"He has everything to live for but it seems he is on a self-destruct mission. I don't think he has got a drug addiction at all. Whatever he has taken will be a result of the depression.

"Quite clearly this young man has got some mental issues and I ask the world to give this plenty of consideration. Other famous people have had these kind of problems and bounced back."

Fury last competed in November 2015 when beating Klitschko to become the world heavyweight champion.