As previously reported by BoxingScene.com, a very tense legal battle began earlier this week at the High Court of North Ireland, between former world champion Carl Frampton and his ex-manager and promoter Barry McGuigan.

Frampton claims that he finally parted ways with McGuigan last year after the taxman called the boxer's home about a £397,000 company VAT bill.

In his legal papers, Frampton claims that McGuigan was "ripping him off and concealing it."

Frampton is suing over allegedly withheld earnings, has also said the cracks in the relationship with McGuigan first appeared when he was allegedly "fobbed off" about being paid after defeating rival Scott Quigg in February 2016.

In a sworn statement he accused McGuigan of abusing the trust he placed in him to look after his career.

The legal case is Frampton's counter-claim to separate legal proceedings brought against him by McGuigan and Cyclone Promotions at the High Court in London.

McGuigan is claiming a breach of contract, after Frampton left him last summer and signed on with promoter Frank Warren.

Lawyers for McGuigan insisted all of the allegations are categorically denied and argued that the case should be dealt with in London along with Cyclone's suit.

The court heard the name of McGuigan's son Blain, who had previously performed in an indie rock band, was included on a promotional agreement with the boxer.

Gavin Millar QC, on behalf of Frampton, submitted: "In reality the promotion was being done by Barry McGuigan. The presence of Blain McGuigan on the agreement is to mask the obvious conflict that arises through Barry McGuigan being, at that point, both the manager and promoter of the fighter."

He argued there had been a lack of transparency in arrangements for the income from his client's bouts and a "vagueness" about the Cyclone finances.

Justice Horner was told the boxer's doubts about his relationship with McGuigan first emerged in the build up to the pay-per-view unification fight with Scott Quigg.

The purse from the bout was to be split 57.5%-42.5% in his favour, he stated. According to Frampton, however, Quigg was paid before him.

Last year, when he was preparing to face Andres Gutierrez in Belfast - a bout ultimately called off when the Mexican slipped and injured himself in the shower last summer, the boxer was shocked when he was approached about a tax bill.

“He was training for the Gutierrrez fight scheduled for 29 July when the Revenue attended his home in Belfast with a demand for £397,000," counsel said.

The visit related to allegedly unpaid VAT by a Northern Ireland-registered Cyclone Promotions company.

Frampton resigned as a director in the company at that point and appointed an independent accountant, the court heard.

He also alleged in his affidavit: "It's my belief that Barry McGuigan and the McGuigan family abused the trust I placed in them in respect of my career as a boxer. Barry McGuigan was in a position where I expected him to safeguard my interests."

Previously the court was told of disputed allegations, Frampton's parents lodged up to £1m into Mr McGuigan's bank account in Belfast.

The cash had been raised through selling tickets to their son's bouts - although the defendants have put the figure at around £220,000.

Frampton alleged the McGuigans "took advantage" of his parents by asking them to lodge large sums of money into the account.