Anthony Joshua had a solid 2023 claiming three wins as he looks to become heavyweight world champion once again.
‘AJ’ easily defeated Otto Wallin in his last outing and the Swede was pulled out of the fight after five one-sided rounds.
But Speaking to Ring Magazine, Lennox Lewis doesn’t believe that was the right sort of opponent for the Brit and has explained exactly why.
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Lewis said: “Joshua lost and he came back against Franklin and Helenius. Everyone is judging him and watching him closely. I look at Joshua and I’m like, ‘OK, he’s had a couple gimme fights, he doesn’t need any more gimme fights.’ He wants to test his skill, give him something. You cannot give scraps to a dog. This guy wants to go out there and prove himself. Allow him to, don’t baby him.”
“This last guy [Otto Wallin], I don’t know how you’re picking your [opponents]. [Joshua] sparred with him and he beat him, so he knows how he is and he beat him as an amateur, [his team is like] ‘this is the guy we should fight.’ No, that’s not the guy you should be fighting because you don’t get respect fighting those guys.”
“He needs to be fighting guys people can say, ‘That’s a good guy. You’re back on top.’ Not a guy that has no definition, doesn’t throw any punches and sinks to body punches. To me there’s nothing gained. It’s false security. Anybody can beat these guys, knock ’em out, but it didn’t do anything for you. Gain is when you conquer.”
The former undisputed heavyweight champion then suggested Zhilei Zhang as an ideal opponent.
“Be a conqueror, beat the guy [Zhilei Zhang] that beat your fellow Englishman, Joe Joyce. The only new name is Frank Sanchez, that’s a good fight for him.
“The problem now, he’s going to be boxing the guys who are coming up, but his main competitors for more credibility are now Fury and Zhang. For me, boxing the guys who were coming up when I was there, I didn’t want that. I wanted guys who I could sink my teeth into, guys who would get me somewhere.
Who would you like Joshua to fight next? Let us know in the comments.
I really don’t understand Lennox hate for AJ.
He has never seen anything good in AJ…..he criticised AJ at the slightest thing.
U can never hear him talk about Fury and Wilder,who turned professionals long before AJ.
Fury and Wilder have been professionals for almost 16 years,yet both don’t have any title unification fight,and both have not fought 15% of top heavyweights of their time.
Both handpicked very easy fights.
AJ has over 3 title unification fights.
AJ has fought over 80% of top ranked heavyweights of his time.
AJ has the best resume in today’s crop of heavyweights.
I feel Lennox is just hating and speaking shit of AJ for nothing.
Lennox should channel same energy to Fury and Wilder who all their boxing career have been fight bums.
Otto,Lennox is calling a sparring partner for AJ,almost ko Fury.
I think Lennox is just being honest
Your comment is weird. Having read Lewis’ comments, he clearly wants the best for AJ. I agree with him actually, if you want to be the best, you clear the heavy weight división, you dont fight bums. If AJ wants to be seen as the best he must clear out Fury, Zhang and find a way to beat Usyk.
People don’t want the truth. He needs a fight that he’s gonna be pressed. I think he needs to be tougher. He’s got lots of skills. More than most but when he gets hurt he falls apart.
I agree with your perspective 👌
Get
I don’t believe Lewis hates AJ, he is fighting for AJ to be on top, this is the positive critic of the sport as a champ.
I think Lenox is over criticizing
Lennox is being honest if AJ doesn’t fight the best opponents he will lose any credibility he has left, Zhang would be a great fight but trouble is he can bang and AJ knows it to be dangerous you have to face danger
Lewis is absolutely correct,,if wanna be the best you gotta the fight the best heavy weights,,but Aj has to regain his mongrel and heart to do that!!dont you think!!
Read Lennox Lewis comment properly before you comment or else I give you a punch in your mouth.
Are you tripping??lennox is showing clearly He wants The best forAJ and its very good advice from one of the best in The sport.you really did not understand what He was saying,and now you are stoneing him for his opinion.