Former heavyweight world champion David Haye has come to the defence of "close friend" banker Kamran Naqvi, who was sacked for allegedly taking backhanders from the boxer.

Naqvi, who was regularly spotted driving Bentley cars owned by Haye as well as seen travelling in private jets with the boxer, is suing his former employers for unfair dismissal and racial discrimination.

Haye appeared at the Central London Employment tribunal today claiming that the accusations were "scandalous" and that Naqvi had never been employed by him, according to the Daily Mail.

The city banker, who is thought to have earned £65,000 a year, was sacked in April last year.