Boxing legend Lennox Lewis has told Anthony Joshua that defeat by Francis Ngannou is unthinkable.
Joshua will take on former UFC heavyweight world champion Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on March 8, less than three months since he stopped Otto Wallin in the Middle East to reignite his career. Ngannou, meanwhile, almost shocked Tyson Fury last year when he dropped the boxing champion before losing a narrow points decision.
Joshua is the odds-on favourite to stop Ngannou who will be taking part in only his second-ever professional boxing fight. And Lewis, the last undisputed heavyweight champion, has warned the former two-time champion he won’t learn anything from the fight. “IMO, this fight adds ZERO credibility to AJ’s resume,” Lewis wrote on social media. “He’s SUPPOSED to win this fight and when he does, what does he gain or learn by beating someone in his second heavyweight fight? If he loses, than it’s an absolute disaster. The same stood for Fury and it almost cost him everything.”
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn responded to Lewis, saying: “Listen in to yesterday.. the winner fights the winner of Fury vs Usyk for undisputed and when AJ joins your club I know you will be delighted for him.” Hearn was referring to a promise from his Saudi Arabian paymasters that Joshua can earn a shot at the undisputed crown should he beat Ngannou.
Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will meet on February 17 to crown the first such champion since Lewis in 1999. The belts had been expected to splinter in the immediate aftermath with Filip Hrgovic the long-standing mandatory challenger to Usyk’s IBF title. But Hearn is confident Joshua will be granted his shot.
“The winner of this fight fights the winner of Fury-Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight world championship,” he said. “I mean, for Ngannou, to fight for the undisputed championship in his third fight- could be a rematch with Fury. Could be the undisputed heavyweight world champion. For us, and for AJ, we’ve dreamed about that for so many years.
“I just said to AJ before the face-to-face, ‘Two wins and your undisputed heavyweight world champion.’ And I believe, he’s going to do it, I really do. I know I’m a fanboy but I believe he’s going to beat Ngannou and I believe he’s going to beat Tyson Fury. I will just say February 17, Oleksandr Usyk, I love you, but Tyson Fury you’ve got to win this fight because AJ, once he goes for Ngannou, we gotta make it happen. So good luck to both, but it’s just what I see. How exciting is that for boxing?”
