Martyn Ford was concerned that if the original fighting went on, the Iranian Hulk would take his own life.
The British bodybuilder was due to fight the Iranian Hulk (real name Sajad Gharibi) on April 30.
However, the fighting was postponed after a statement was made on social media by “the most feared man in the world”.
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Both fighters have accused each other of canceling the fight, but Ford insists that his concerns about Garribi’s mental health first began after the pair had a bitter confrontation in Dubai.
During the argument, Garibal was pushed to the ground by Ford.
He told the Mirror: “This is where we came to Dubai and conflict.
“I’m really worried about his mental health and how he’s feeling. That’s me.
“I can’t fight a man who I truly believe can end his life after a fight.
“As an outsider, people might say, ‘What are you doing?’ But from a man who was there, who saw it and the way it broke down.
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“We had a confrontation and it was a bit of a boost. I looked him in the eyes and turned around and told the boys, ‘No fight.’
“I’m already sad about what happened after that, the amount of bullying he was getting and his reaction to being bullied broke down on national television. Then his parents came out and said ‘We don’t want to anything to do with you, you’re weak ‘.
“Then on Instagram Live, when he turned around and said he hated Iranians and wanted to take his own life. I thought, ‘No, I can’t take part’.”
Despite the difficulty, Ford seems eager to find a new opponent.
He added: “I’m a little frustrated and bored. But I try to do everything I can to keep myself active and busy.
“Focus is the most important thing and it’s frustrating when you’re ready for something but you can’t go out and do it with the work I’m putting in. For me it’s trying to become find something as quickly as possible to complete it by converting energy into something.
Ford concluded: “I’m still training, all I’m not doing is subtle. I’ve switched back to its resistance and explosives.
“If something happens that I would like to register soon, I’ve been training and putting a lot of time and energy into it.”
If you or someone you know experiences feelings of loneliness and distress or is thinking about suicide, the Samaritans is here to help you through the most difficult of times.
You can contact them at 116 123, email [email protected], or visit the Samaritans website to find details of the branch closest to you.
You can also call MIND on 0300 123 3393 or CALM on 0800 58 58 58.
In the United States, if you or someone you know is in urgent need of mental health assistance, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
The Helpline is a free, confidential emergency line that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
