Guzman (Left) and Beard

Lee Beard has rubbished rumours that the Hatton’s had discarded him and insists he is still an integral part of Team Hatton’s training team. The rumours seemed to begin when Beard recently took over the training duties of former WBO super-bantamweight and super-featherweight champion Joan Guzman.

Although involved in Ricky Hatton’s training camps, Beard has done more work with Ricky’s younger brother Matthew, and it was him that seemed to object to Beard taking the Guzman job. Beard however denies this and says things are fine between him and Matthew.

“I got a call only a few days before from Guzman asking me to train him as he had been given a date of April 3 by Golden Boy for the rematch with Funeka and could I start training him, as it was in eight weeks’ time.

“He wanted me to come over to start a camp and give us a chance to gel. So I spoke to Matthew and he said he’d prefer me to stay of course but said it was a great opportunity, and it was fine and he could use anyone in the corner for what was just a ‘keep-busy’ fight, so he would see me when I got back.

“He didn’t need me at that time, he was already in great shape and sparring eight rounds a day, my assistant was there to help out with him. If he was fighting anybody that was a risk I wouldn’t have thought about going. So everything was alright.

“Next thing I know I was reading that I had moved over there. It’s just ridiculous and blown out of all proportion. The first week over there in New York I was just reading so many things, it was so frustrating. I was coming back in two weeks!”

“I’ve got a lot of time for Matthew, he’s a great guy and a friend and I’d train Matthew today,” concluded Beard. “He’s performing really well now and he’s really peaking. He’s better against better opposition but whether he’ll get the fights that he needs is another question.

“Not one percent of me has got a problem with Matthew, I know I’ve done nothing wrong, and I know he’s done nothing wrong.

“The whole thing has been blown out of proportion.”

Joan Guzman nevertheless is currently training in Beard’s Manchester gym, and the pair intend to head to Vegas around a fortnight ahead of Guzman’s rematch with South African Ali Funeka for the IBF lightweight crown.

1. Joan Guzman to return at light welterweight
2. Funeka fails drug test to complete Funeka-Guzman mess
3. Guzman 9lbs overweight for Funeka fight!
4. Lee Beard Ends Association With Hatton’s
5. Maidana returns tonight on HBO but question marks over Guzman