Lewis: Frank will be with me in spirit

Lennox Lewis revealed today how he plans to settle his differences with two men by engaging one in a brawl and joining the other for a beer.

Lewis is prepared to slug it out with Hasim Rahman at the Mandalay Bay here on Saturday, when he attempts to claim the world heavyweight championship for a third time, but the 36-year-old Londoner said he was willing to go easier on former manager Frank Maloney by buying him a drink, despite their acrimonious split last week.

The rematch with Rahman, the rank outsider who shocked Lewis by inflicting a fifth-round knockout on the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation champion in South Africa seven months ago, will be the first time in 42 professional fights that the former Olympic gold medallist had not been accompanied to the ring by Maloney.

One of boxing's most enduring partnerships ended when Maloney refused to sign a new contract which he claimed reduced his role to that of consultant and was tantamount to "slave labour".

Maloney, respected within the sport for the manner in which he guided Lewis's career through the political minefield of the heavyweight division, said: "I am certainly disappointed in the way Lennox has behaved.

"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."

Responding for the first time, Lewis claimed that was "sour grapes".

Talking to Standard Sport, he said: "If Frank was here right now I don't think he would say I was a monster because I don't think he believes it. I don't have any bad feelings for Frank. I would still drink beer with him, of course."

Maloney plans to attend a boxing show in Scotland on the night Lewis goes in against 29-year-old Rahman. Yet, remarkably, the fighter believes Maloney will be with him in spirit.

"I will feel his presence," Lewis said. "In a sense he will be there for me. Frank will always be there. You can't go through a relationship for so long and not have that special chemistry."

It was clear that all was not well between Lewis and Maloney in the immediate aftermath of the first clash with Rahman. The Lewis camp was certainly not pleased when Maloney voiced criticism of the ex-champion's training programme and his late arrival in Johannesburg.

Yet after yesterday's final public training session in the cavernous Mandalay Bay Arena, Lewis admitted to the failings highlighted by Maloney.

Asked if he had underestimated the challenge posed by Rahman, a 20-1 long shot, Lewis replied: "Yes, I did. It wasn't like I was fighting Mike Tyson. But these things can happen and now I have to go in there and reclaim my belts.

"There will be no complaints this time. I am coming to the fight more disciplined, more focused and ready to do battle."

While the game plan revealed by trainer Emanuel Steward is to keep Rahman at the end of a long left jab until he is weakened and vulnerable to an explosive attack, Lewis is ready to brawl if necessary.

He said: "If I have to go into the trenches and dig deep, I will do it. I don't care what I have to do. I just want to get the win."