Maloney fuels Lewis-King link

Lewis and Maloney (right) in happier times

Frank Maloney, the ex-manager of Lennox Lewis, says he would not be surprised if the boxer signed up with promoter Don King.

But he warned that such a move would completely sever Lewis' links with Britain.

His comments follow newspaper reports that Lewis is poised to sign a £75m four-fight contract with the flamboyant American promoter.

The 36-year-old boxer has said in the past that he would never sign with King, but said recently he would consider it if he wins his heavyweight title rematch with Hasim Rahman in Las Vegas on Saturday.

"There have been a number of people in the Lewis team who would like him to go with Don King," Maloney told BBC Five Live.

King is reported to have offered Lewis a £75m deal

"He's coming to the end of his career - he may see it as the best opportunity out there for him at the moment."

But Maloney added: "I feel if he does, it's a way of cutting all his links with Britain.

"He must think he can benefit out of it and the people around him must think he can benefit out of it.

"But it doesn't seem to be a good idea if you're starting up your own promotional company, which he's got up and running in London, to sign away your rights to another promoter."

Maloney said he had not spoken to Lewis since the pair's acrimonious split last week.

"If he wants to phone me, he knows where I am," Maloney said.

"I'm not really sad about (the break-up) - I'm just upset and annoyed at the way it was done."

But Maloney believes that former world champion Lewis will beat Rahman.

"I believe Lennox Lewis will win the fight," he said.

"He'll use his chess brain to get through the 12 rounds - or maybe a late stoppage."

Maloney said he himself would continue to work in boxing.

"I'm just going to continue going forward and do what I'm best at doing - developing fighters' careers and taking them to the top of their profession."