A boxing promoter said he had no idea why one of his fighters, who was found hanged at his home in south-east London, would have been frightened of him, an inquest has heard.
Frank Maloney broke down in tears as he told the court he had been painted as a monster during the hearing into the death of Olympic bronze medallist boxer Darren Sutherland at Croydon Coroner's Court.
Mr Sutherland, 27, was found hanged at his home in Bromley on September 14 2009 by Mr Maloney, who had become concerned for his welfare when he failed to answer his phone. The Irishman, who turned professional after winning bronze at the 2008 Beijing games, had been in turmoil over what would happen to him if he was to give up boxing, the court was told.
Mr Maloney told the court he received a phone call while he was on holiday in Portugal from Joe Dunbar, Mr Sutherland's physiologist, who said he was concerned about the boxer. Mr Maloney later received a call from Mr Sutherland's trainer, Bryan Lawrence, who told him that the boxer had been at the gym and told him he did not want to box any more.
The promoter, who has managed Nigel Benn, Lennox Lewis and Chris Eubank, arranged a one-to-one meeting with his protege the week before he died, the court was told.
Mr Maloney said Mr Sutherland told him he had lost his confidence and did not know if he could continue boxing. He said: "I listened to him a lot. We were chatting and I said 'Darren, you have to make this decision, it's up to you'."
Coroner Dr Roy Palmer asked Mr Maloney whether there was any reason why Mr Sutherland would be frightened of him, to which Mr Maloney replied no.
Dr Palmer recorded an open verdict and confirmed the cause of death as hanging. He said sufficient doubt in his mind meant he would not be returning a verdict of suicide.
He said: "To his family, he was a dear son of whom you can be immensely proud."
Dr Palmer said he would also be writing to the British Board of Boxing Control to make recommendations so that a tragedy of this kind could be averted in the future.
Following the inquest, Mr Sutherland's family said they had felt duty-bound to investigate the circumstances of their son's death.
Solicitor James Evans, reading a statement on their behalf, said: "Darren's death was indeed tragic for the family, for Ireland and the boxing world."
