Lennox Lewis has finally opened up on the difficult relationship that he has with fellow former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Earlier in August of this year, Joshua called Lewis “a clown” for comments he has been making in the media about his current career, and in response to this, Lewis has opened up to the Undefeated Podcast to explain how the relationship broke down.

Lewis said: "He turned pro and he was saying I was his favourite boxer. He asked what I should do and I said come out to Jamaica and we'll talk.

"We talked about my career and he loved hearing about my career and everything I'd gone through.

"I said I'd love to help him, I didn't want to be his promoter, but I had a lot of knowledge in my head that I could teach him.

"He said he wanted me to help him... then I didn't hear from him again. He picked some other people to help him and that was it.

"I went to one of his fights and he did great and sometimes i saw him in London and he said he would give me a call but I never heard from him.

"So it was a shock to see him on TV saying I didn't phone him; my number hasn't changed, his has changed five times."

Lewis also stressed that he was denied access to offer his congratulations following Joshua’s victory over Wladimir Klitschko back in November 2017.

“Me and Holyfield were there for German TV, we were outside the dressing room; we wanted to big him up as the first champion after the Olympics.

“Security brushed us out of the way and brushed him in there and he was like Len… but they pushed him in.”

The main source of contact between the two former champions has been via social media, where the rows have been going on for several months.

Joshua will hope that this will not be too much of a distraction as he takes on Ruiz Jr this Saturday in their heavyweight title rematch.