Frank Maloney, manager-promoter of Lennox Lewis, yesterday hit out at television's apparent lack of interest in his world heavyweight champion. Angry Maloney said: "How can Sky TV turn down Lewis in favour of Frank Warren promoting Nicky Piper's world light-heavyweight match in Germany on October 4th?

"Lewis is the only Briton to regain the world heavyweight title, yet there is no deal for his monster fight with Polish wild man Andrew Golota in Atlantic City."

He added: "Warren wants to take over boxing completely in this country - and that's wrong. "Boxing belongs to the people and we are willing to negotiate with Sky, BBC, ITV, Live TV and cable. At the moment, we are negotiating only with cable, but talks are continuing all round. Time is running out."

Maloney is offering his Alexandra Palace show, also on October 4th, featuring European champions Spencer Oliver and Crawford Ashley, followed by Lewis-Golota, in a television package. Oliver will defend his super bantamweight crown against Russia's Hvivchka Hdrian, while Ashley meets Norway's Ole Klemetsen.