Boxing: Maloney - Lewis will never be one of the greats

Frank Maloney believes Britain's Lennox Lewis will never be regarded as one of boxing's greats.

Lewis bids to win back the WBC, IBF and IBO heavyweight belts he lost to Hasim Rahman seven months ago in South Africa, when he take on the American again in Las Vegas.

Lewis says he has learnt the lessons from that defeat and from the ill-judged preparations beforehand, and is ready to right the wrong.

But even if he wins in spectacular style, Maloney - the Canadian-born fighter's former manager - does not believe he will be considered a legend in the sport.

Maloney, whose 11-year connection with Lewis ended last week when he failed to sign a confidentiality agreement, believes the Rahman defeat is one of two that will keep him out of the fight game's hall of fame.

He told a British tabloid: "From the very first day I began working with Lennox he always had a driving ambition to go down as one of the world's greatest heavyweights.

"Unfortunately, after what happened in South Africa, no matter whether he gets his revenge over Rahman, he will never go down in history as one of the greats.

"If you look at the two defeats of his career - to Oliver McCall and Rahman - at best you could describe them as no more than moderate heavyweights.

"It wasn't like Muhammad Ali losing to Joe Frazier or George Foreman losing to Ali.

"Maybe he could have got away with one mistake against a journeyman fighter - but when lightning strikes twice it leaves a big question mark.

"Those defeats will always deny Lewis the place he has craved in boxing history.

"Even though he unified the division, a truly magnificent achievement, he will never be up there in boxing's hall of fame."