03 May 2023 , 14:16
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Lennox Lewis has boldly backed Deontay Wilder in his potential upcoming clash with Anthony Joshua in December.
Joshua recently outpointed Jermaine Franklin to restore momentum in his heavyweight career, and is now in talks over a potential mega-fight against 'The Bronze Bomber' in December. The contest is set to finally take place after the pair had previously looked set to meet each other in the ring while champions in 2018 but talks collapsed.
It is expected Joshua could first step in the ring with Dillian Whyte in a potential all-British rematch this summer before any clash with Wilder. Joshua could go into the contest as underdog given Wilder's elite punch power which has seen him stop most of his opponents other than Tyson Fury.
And former undisputed champion Lewis has suggested he believes Wilder will have too much for the Briton due to his punching power. “Joshua against Wilder? Definitely Wilder," Lewis said in an interview with ES News. "Wilder’s got that thing in him where he wants to hurt you and I’ve seen it every time he throws that right hand, he’s trying to damage you with that right hand. He’s throws it with intention.”
Joshua has linked up with new trainer Derrick James and successfully outboxed Franklin in his comeback fight earlier this year. However he came into fresh criticism for his more cautious approach despite largely dominating the rounds and coming out of the test unscathed.
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Wilder would pose a far sterner test and it could well be just the second appearance under James' stewardship for Joshua. In a fresh update on talks, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested both camps are on board with the Middle East's approach and terms are now being finalised.
Lennox Lewis believes Anthony Joshua will lose to Deontay Wilder (Getty Images)Who do you think will win if the pair fight - Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wilder? Let us know in the comments section below
‘They want to make that night, they want to do Joshua vs Wilder and Fury vs Usyk,’ Hearn told Matchroom Boxing. "I think Usyk conversations, the Wilder conversations have gone very well. For us, we are in. We need to finalise terms but we said to Prince Khalid [bin Salman Al Saud] that is the fight we want.
‘We know having worked with them before we can get a deal done and really, what we are looking to do this week and next, is look at that situation and decide if there will be a fight in early August for Anthony Joshua before then. I would like him to, I think [Joshua’s trainer] Derrick James would like him to and I think AJ would but we have to see how those talks with Deontay Wilder evolve.
"We just made it clear to them, our message was AJ is ready for all those fights, he is happy to agree the Deontay Wilder fight for December and we will now see if we can close terms in the next couple of weeks."