By Edward Chaykovsky
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is very interested in the upcoming showdown between his countryman, IBF world champion Anthony Joshua, and former division ruled Wladimir Klitschko.
Klitschko, 41, has been out of the ring since losing a twelve round decision to Tyson Fury in November 2015. Joshua is at the highest point of his pro career.
A record crowd of 90,000 fans are expected to pack Wembley for their April 29th battle - which is also going to have the WBA, IBO world titles on the line.
Lewis warns that a poor defeat can make a veteran boxer raise his level if showmanship to make a statement in the following bout.
He could see the exact scenario take place when Klitschko steps into the ring with the younger Joshua.
“When I lost for only the second time in my professional career to Hasim Rahman in 2001, the critics all insisted that it was all over for me,” said Lewis to Evening Standard. “They said that’s it – he’s done. The opposite was true. It re-kindled a flame that had been dwindling. I went back seven months later and knocked him out in the fourth round in the rematch.
“All I wanted to do was show the doubters that they were wrong. Will that be the case with Klitschko? Will his defeat by Tyson Fury have re-lit his flame? Now Klitschko knows he has to work hard again. This could motivate him for one big night. I don’t know yet – but I will be able to tell you after two rounds in April.
Lewis is still unable to pick a winner in the fight. The final fight of Lewis’s career came in 2003 against Klitschko’s older brother, Vitali. Lewis struggled to win a stoppage, due to Vitali's severe cuts. He knew the end was near and retired not too long after that fight.
He wonders if Klitschko should have walked away after losing to Fury. The fight with Joshua will answer that question.
“This is Anthony’s time now, but its still hard to pick a winner. This may be a fight too many for Klitschko. AJ may walk all over him. Klitschko fell asleep in his last fight. Will he be asleep again or will he have been spurred to get his title back? That is why it is so intriguing,” Lewis said.
“Anthony is a great young fighter. I have a lot of respect for him. He has worked hard and dealt with things well. But as far as experience goes, he is lacking a bit. You can go in there and knock out 18 guys straight, but what have you learned? But he is a guy who works hard in the gym all the time and he takes in a lot of information. So now you’ve got Joshua, who is young and strong and you’ve got Klitschko, who is old but with so much knowledge and experience. And this is a good time, the right time for Anthony.”