Scott Harrison's future is in serious doubt as manager Frank Maloney appears to have lost patience with the troubled WBO featherweight champion.
Maloney set up a counselling retreat in England for the fighter's depression and alcohol problems but Harrison has fled back to Glasgow.
"I think I got too involved," Maloney told BBC Sport.
"I have other fighters that I have been neglecting and my involvement with Scott will now be with boxing only."
Last week, Harrison checked into Glasgow's Priory clinic for treatment for depression and alcohol problems.
Maloney then moved the boxer to a location in the South of England and went public with predictions of a successful recovery.
I'm worried about his life because he obviously has a serious problem now
Frank Maloney on Scott Harrison
However, Harrison was soon back in Scotland and Maloney does not know his whereabouts.
"I have been informed that he has left the centre," added Maloney.
"His father (Peter Harrison) says he is now in a safe place in Glasgow. I just hope they realise the seriousness of the situation.
"I have spent the last 10 days completely involved in Scott Harrison's business and his problems.
"He doesn't seem to want to listen to anybody or take any advice.
"I'm worried about his life because he obviously has a serious problem now.
"I have now decided to take a backward step and let his family deal with it. They feel there is a different solution.
The 28-year-old boxer has had a turbulent few months and pulled out of his planned defence against against Gairy St Clair in Belfast on Saturday.
Harrison saw off his last challenger, Nedal Hussein, in November and his title is likely to be up for grabs if he does not get back in the ring before early August.
Harrison, from Cambuslang, near Glasgow, was recently arrested following an alleged incident in a nightclub in Balloch, Dunbartonshire.
In April, he was bailed on a charge of breach of the peace, refusing to leave a licensed premises, resisting arrest and police assault. Trial was fixed for September.
Boy, it does not look good for Scott, does it? Timing could not have been worse either. Maloney predicts a swift return for Harrison, then day after, he leaves. Damn!
Can't blame Maloney, if Harrison's head isn't in the right place, then what can he do. It takes a big man to admit he needs to go into rehab, and maybe Scott isn't ready to admit he needs it, or maybe that isn't what his problem is, who knows? There's obviously something wrong with his melon though.
It woulnd't surprise me if all the hate towards Scott from fans all over the place has given him a complex and lead him to drink.
He quite frankly gets stick everywhere you look and surely it must have an effect. There are forums I have seen where people actually hate him for being a Scot.
If I had worked my socks off to become a world champ yet still got stick from the media and fans about my boxing I would probably hit the bottle too.
I know its all part of the whole champion thing to be prepared to accept stick but Scott gets it from everywhere for no real reason.
Perhaps a few weeks out of the public eye is just what he needs.
kerrminator wrote:It woulnd't surprise me if all the hate towards Scott from fans all over the place has given him a complex and lead him to drink.
He quite frankly gets stick everywhere you look and surely it must have an effect. There are forums I have seen where people actually hate him for being a Scot.
If I had worked my socks off to become a world champ yet still got stick from the media and fans about my boxing I would probably hit the bottle too.
I know its all part of the whole champion thing to be prepared to accept stick but Scott gets it from everywhere for no real reason.
Perhaps a few weeks out of the public eye is just what he needs.
All the best Scotty.
The reason for the widespread dislike of Harrison are to do with his antics outside the ring.
I thought it was rather premature when Maloney was saying that Scott would fight very soon and wonder whether Harrison did a runner partly due to this. Surely if he has emotional and alcohol problems he will be in no fit state to fight for a long while, these things take a long time to get a handle on... Maloney is probably worried about Harrison being stripped of his title but I think hurrying him back into the ring when he's not 100% would be a big mistake.
