Rahman blames Lewis for TV rumble

Rahman and Lewis grapple in the TV studio

Heavyweight boxer Hasim Rahman has denied sparking an extraordinary chat show scrap with Lennox Lewis by questioning his sexuality.

The pair wrestled on a table after an argument over comments by Rahman that Lewis had "acted gay" when taking his fight for a rematch to court.

Both fighters were appearing on American television to promote their November bout when the brawl broke out - something Rahman insists was Lewis' fault.

"I don't play games like that," he told BBC Radio Four's Today Programme.

"He put his hands on me so I restrained him and I pushed him on the desk and held him there," said Rahman.

He put his hands on me and I wouldn't let anyone put his hands on me

Hasim Rahman on Lennox Lewis

"I never said he was gay. I said it was gay of him to take me to court for a rematch. He said he was going to use my sister to show me he wasn't gay.

"I told him specifically I was not calling him gay - I don't understand how he could have misinterpreted it.

"I don't understand how his mind works.

"There was not much I could really do - he put his hands on me and I wouldn't let anyone put his hands on me.

"I'm anxious to get in the ring and prove I can knock him out again. I don't really have a beef with him - I'll take out any problems in the ring."

Promoter Don King has insisted the fighters can put their brawl behind them, with the boxers due to appear together on stage later on Friday.

Why are you calling me gay? I am 100% a woman's man

What Lewis said to Rahman

He insisted they would come to London on Monday to promote their November rematch - which has been dubbed "the final judgement".

Ed Keenan, spokesman for Don King Productions, said neither fighter had been injured as they tussled on the set of a programme being made for ESPN, the American sports network.

Neither have come face-to-face since the fracas, but Lewis and Rahman, known as the Rock, will go on stage together in Las Vegas as part of their promotional tour.

"Rahman is on his way to Las Vegas and Lewis is staying in Los Angeles and will go there later," said Keenan.

"They are both going to London. Don is going to make Rock go."

Don't say anything about my family

Rahman reacts to Lewis' jibe about his sister

The two stood face to face on the show, ESPN's Up Close, before locking arms and wrestling on the floor, smashing a table as TV workers and their entourages tried to pull them apart.

The show was being taped in California on Thursday night when the clash happened.

Host Gary Miller asked Lewis: "Did he question your sexuality?"

Lewis, 35, replied: "He said, 'Why are you starting that gay stuff?' I said, 'Why are you calling me gay'."

Rahman claimed the "gay" comment was a reference to the legal battle fought between the two camps after Lewis' shock defeat in April in South Africa by the American.

I thought someone was going to get hurt

TV show host Gary Miller

"I said what you did was gay," Rahman said. "I said it was gay to take it to the court. I don't know why he was so offended."

An angry Lewis shot back: "I am 100% a woman's man. If you are worried about that, bring your sister."

Rahman, also angry, replied: "I am telling you right now, don't say anything about my family."

The two then stood face to face before Lewis grabbed Rahman's arm and the scuffle began.

Table smashed

Miller tried to intervene, saying: "We don't want that" but was powerless as the two men wrestled.

As others tried to pull them apart they continued wrestling, rolling on the floor and against a barrier in the studio before falling on to the table they had been sitting behind and smashing it.

Keenan said the two had continued their round of interviews after the confrontation - but from separate places.

Miller said he did not believe the scrap was engineered by King to hype the fight.

"I thought it was just one of those typical weigh-in nose-to-noses," said Miller. "Then I thought someone was going to get hurt."