Iranian Hulk posted a series of concerning messages including a "wish for death" which casted doubts on his cancelled clash with Martyn Ford.
The 30-year-old - real name Sajad Gharibi- was set to face long-term rival Ford on his maiden appearance in the boxing ring on April 30 in London. However, the fight has now been shelved after months of anticipation, with Ford hinting that his rival was to blame during a video statement that released the news on social media.
Gharibi had previously concerned fans with several worrying posts during his time in Dubai, where he wrote : "I came to Dubai without any sponsor by selling assets, without a coach and without any support. I wish for death. Oh God, you are the witness of how much I have suffered. I am ashamed of Iranian people."
Footage of his preparations had already concerned fans who were convinced he would have been "destroyed" if the pair met due to their vast size difference.
An interview on Iranian TV also emerged where the star continued to cast doubts on the fight after claiming his parents had disowned him during an emotional recollection of the build-up. "I cannot call my family; when I returned [to Iran] I didn't go to my family," Hulk said while bursting into tears.
"I can't talk to my father and my mother, when I spoke to her, [she] said: 'The person in this video that I saw was not my son, my son is way stronger than this'. It hurts my heart when I can't talk to my family. I have lost my pride and I am destroyed. How can I explain? They deceived me and I fell to the ground.
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"My family said that you will go there and finish him. They expected the other way around. How can I sleep or get any rest? I personally feel very bad and I cannot sleep but I am now taking sleeping pills. When a mum says that to her child, how can it be tolerated? There is a lot of pressure, if I got paid even one dollar to do that I can't continue."
Ford later questioned if his rival was 'serious' about stepping in the ring, which was met with a bullish defiance when the pair came to blows during their opening face-off in Dubai. Gharibi claimed he had made a significant weight transformation ahead of the clash and vowed to leave his rival on a stretcher.
He also later confirmed he would never leave Iran and felt increasingly 'homesick' during his period away from the country to promote the fight. "Firstly I must die if I endanger Iran's reputation," Gharibi continued. "Iran is my life and blood. I was sick in Dubai because I was so far away from Iran.
"Iran is my love and life, I was born in Iran and will die here. I can't think of living anywhere other than Iran. Some say ' you want to immigrate to England and become a refugee' but it doesn't make any sense. Since 2016 I have had many job offers from Dubai in body guarding, especially when I was heavy as they offered me $20,000 a month - but I didn't want to go."
Ford now faces a search for a new opponent with fans suggesting strongman Thor Bjornsson replaces the Iranian star.
