Sylvester Stallone has said that he sees no connection between his show, The Contender and the suicide of one of its contestants.

Promising boxer Najai Turpin was found dead at his Philadelphia home last week, having shot himself.

Hollywood.com quotes Stallone as saying: "This unfortunate occurrence seems to have nothing to do with boxing but other personal issues that we really don't know much about.

"I loved this man. I loved what he stood for. He was incredibly brave. When he was with his child, you saw the child in him come out."

The Contender launches on March 7.