By Gabriel Princewill-
Lennox Lewis has delivered a verbal and media bashing against Britain’s heavyweight star, Anthony Joshua, accusing him of ducking unbeaten American, Deontey Wilder. The 52 year old former undisputed world heavyweight champion’s words against unbeaten Anthony Joshua has done the rounds in media circles, with the Londoner now being presented as the scaredy cat in the aborted heavyweight unification the world was waiting to see. Lewis was Britain’s last respected champion, he fought everyone on offer and lost only twice in defeats subsequently avenged. After spending time with the WBC American champion in Washington last week, Lewis has openly given his verdict, and it doesn’t bode well for Joshua’s glowing reputation.
Lewis’s verdict is not necessarily accurate or flawless, but when a man of Lewis standing arrives at a conclusion as telling as this, there can be no mistake that it could influence public opinion. Joshua may well argue that arrangements for the fight were being handled by Eddie Hearns and that he has no fear of Wilder, but Lennox Lewis disagrees and has asserted his stance on the big fall out in negotiations between Anthony Joshua and Deontey Wilder’s team.
“There is no question that it is Wilder who wants the fight and it is Wilder who wants to prove that he is the man in this new heavyweight era,” Lewis told the Daily Mail .”I was with Wilder in Washington last week and it is clear Joshua doesn’t want the fight.”He explained to me all the difficulties he is having with Anthony and Eddie, of how AJ is listening to Hearn. Deontay most definitely wants this fight more than any fight.”
“Joshua said he would take fifty million dollars in a heartbeat but when that offer came he didn’t accept. I would have taken fifty million quicker than a heartbeat gone through with any fight. But I never ducked anyone.” Joshua’s team have argued that $50m would have taken away control of Joshua’s destiny , adding that the American’s team refused to present a contract associated with the $50m offer. Wilder and his team required Joshua to first verbally accept the offer, but attempts to make the deal eventually descended into an unedifying farce after a concession by Wilder to fight Joshua in the Uk was intercepted by the WBA’s demand for their mandatory challenger. Alexander Povetkin to meet Joshua next on September 22.
Anthony Joshua: Duckling?
However, Lewis had positive words for Tyson Fury, the unbeaten outspoken gypsy boxer who became the first to derail Wladimir Klitschko’s 11 year unbeaten run in 2015. He talked up the chances of Fury beating Deontey Wilder once contracts between the pair are finalized for a mouthwatering showdown in Las Vegas. Lewis cited Fury’s long reach and adaptive strength as factors that could lead to Fury coming up Trumps once a deal is eventually struck for a money spinning clash sometime in November.
“While you might think it is better for him[Tyson Fury] to have another couple of fights first, Wilder would not find this easy. Fury’s height (6ft 9in), long reach and mobility, make him very difficult to beat. Wladimir Klitschko discovered that and the better the opponent, the better Tyson is going to look. Definitely.”That’s why I call him their Bogeyman. He can be a nightmare for anyone.” Lewis’s assessment is right because Fury is a brave warrior with a lot of durability.
Fury’s agility coupled with his huge size, unorthodox style, and sheer determination, makes him a tough assignment for any opponent- but that’s only if he is in optimum shape and condition. Only time will tell whether the two come back fights Fury would have had before he meets Wilder will suffice to adequately prepare him for the confident and destructive American world champion. Any shortcomings in his readiness for a big fight with one as athletic, hungry, and powerful as Wilder, will lead to Fury being blown away in dramatic fashion. Even in good shape , a fighter can suffer a decisive beating in the ring especially in a fight of this magnitude. Fury knows the risks involves must expect that Wilder himself will train even harder than ever, knowing fully well he is up against a very big man who so far has shown he doesn’t know how to loose.
Anthony Joshua will simply have to concentrate on his defense against Povetkin, he alone truly knows whether he doesn’t want the fight or whether he left matters to his promoter to handle. Joshua may truly have been worried about the risk of meeting a dangerous fighter like Wilder at this stage, it is difficult to tell. On the face of all the facts known, Wilder appeared to be the most eager party to make this fight, he pushed for it even long before negotiations started. Most importantly, Wilder must focus wholeheartedly on his next meeting with Fury who despite his long absence from the ring will come to win .