LONDON, Nov 8: Lennox Lewis and his former manager Frank Maloney have engaged in some verbal sparring ahead of the Briton’s heavyweight title rematch with American Hasim Rahman.

Lewis, who sacked his manager of 12 years on Monday, termed the parting as “amicable” but the divorce appears to be far from friendly with Maloney describing the former-heavyweight world champion as a “monster”.

“I’m certainly disappointed in the way Lennox has behaved,” Maloney was quoted in the Daily Telegraph on Thursday.

“You come to expect it from people when you create a monster and that’s obvious for all the world to see in the way he behaves and treats people.

“He is not the Lennox Lewis I first knew.”

According to newspaper reports, Maloney has already consulted lawyers and may seek compensation from Lewis, who is in the final stages of preparations for his November 17 rematch with Rahman in Las Vegas.

Maloney managed Lewis from his early years as a professional after he won the 1988 Olympic gold medal through to his peak as undisputed world heavyweight champion following his victory over Evander Holyfield in 1999.

The dispute may prove to be an unwanted distraction for Lewis, who lost his WBC, IBF and IBO titles to Rahman in Johannesburg in April when he was knocked out in the fifth round.

Lewis has, so far, refused to be drawn into a full-scale verbal brawl with Maloney explaining the move as strictly a business decision.

“I asked my business people to persuade Frank to sign a new arrangement but Frank’s request for a high amount of money meant that our association had to end,” Lewis told Sky Sports TV on Tuesday.

“In one sense I realise that Frank knows my career is coming to a close and he needs to continue his career as a promoter.

“He wants to connect himself with those people who are going to further his career.

“He’s got a conflict of interests right now and you can’t govern two bosses.

“Me and Frank will always be friends. This is just a business decision.”

Maloney is currently in Los Angeles training Russian Roman Karmazin who is scheduled to fight American Oscar De La Hoya next month.—Reuters