• Heavyweight

Maloney: Price can eclipse Lennox Lewis

Lennox Lewis unified the heavyweight division with victory over Evander Holyfield in 1999 © Getty Images

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Frank Maloney has made the bold claim that David Price can surpass the exploits of British heavyweight great Lennox Lewis.

Maloney masterminded Lewis' career, which was a glittering one as he was the last unified heavyweight champion with a record of 44 wins and two defeats. The promoter says Price is capable of doing unbelievable things and has his sights on world titles.

The next step on the ladder for Price is a clash with Tony Thompson in Liverpool on Saturday night and Maloney feels it will push him nearer a world title shot.

"We have got to go and unify the division because I have looked at every heavyweight out there and if he continues to improve then there is nobody who can stop him," Maloney told the Liverpool Echo. "This fight will move him into the top half of every world organisation. You don't usually get two world class fighters fighting each other when there is no belt on the line."

Price holds the British and European heavyweight belts, but Maloney feels there is no point in his man fighting people that will not enhance his reputation.

"I got asked about Michael Sprott last month," Maloney said. "That fight would be like going back to Matt Skelton. If I phoned David up and said I had Michael Sprott lined up, he would not want to get out of bed. That is not being disrespectful, but just where we need to be looking now.

"If we can't get Dereck Chisora or Tyson Fury for the British title then he may never win the Lonsdale Belt outright but every fight now has got to be that extra step towards where we are going.

"This guy is capable of doing things people will not believe. I know I do talk nonsense at times but I truthfully believe he will go to a level which sees him surpass Lennox Lewis.

"Lennox didn't really capture the public's imagination. When he retired he did, because they missed him, but the British public relate to David more."

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