Lennox Lewis Sends Serious Warning to Tyson Fury Ahead of Highly-Anticipated Rematch against Oleksandr Usyk
LENNOX LEWIS has expressed concerns that Tyson Fury might become distracted on his quest for revenge against Oleksandr Usyk, given the high-profile showdown with Anthony Joshua that’s approaching.
The investors from Saudi Arabia are keen to finally see the 6ft 9in heavyweight from Morecambe confront the longstanding rivalry with Watford’s 2012 Olympic champion.
The eagerly awaited bout, which has seen last-minute negotiations collapse twice, promises to be the peak of British boxing.
After Joshua’s recent knockout by Daniel Dubois at Wembley last September, which led to Usyk losing the IBF title, Fury expressed his exasperation, stating: “That cost me 150 million – the silly c***.”
Regardless of whether that figure is in pounds or dollars, it’s evident that AJ could command a similar amount, placing this matchup’s worth at around £300m.
Rumors suggest a two-fight deal, with one fight in Riyadh, boxing’s new epicenter, and a potential rematch in London, potentially pushing the rivalry’s total to a half-billion doubleheader.
Instead of mandating an immediate rematch, Saudi boxing official Turki Alalshikh has given Joshua time to recover from the five-round defeat while he awaits his chance to face Fury.
Lewis—who was the last undisputed champion prior to Usyk and is known for his ability to bounce back from setbacks—voiced concerns that Fury may be distracted by the significant financial implications at stake.
In an interview with SunSport, he remarked, “I see it as a dangerous distraction to have lingering in your mind.”
“My sole objective would be to secure the undisputed championship first, rather than get sidetracked by anything else.”
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“That would be my primary aim, especially if he finds himself down 1-0.”
“For Fury, winning this bout is of utmost importance, and I fully understand his mindset.”
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“He’s present in the moment, but perhaps not completely zoned in—he will engage fully if he focuses as needed.”
Regardless of the fight’s outcome, it looks like a clash between Fury and Joshua is planned for early 2025, both fighters potentially stepping into the ring after suffering back-to-back defeats to the talented Ukrainian southpaw.
Lewis successfully corrected all imperfections on his impressive record.
He took nearly three years to settle scores with Oliver McCall, pursued a prompt rematch with Hasim Rahman through legal means, and dominated Evander Holyfield just eight months after a contentious draw had denied him the undisputed title in his first attempt.
Drawing from his vast experience, he believes that a victory for Fury on Saturday could lead to a trilogy with Usyk, while failing to do so—including against AJ—would be regarded as a disappointment.
When I woke up after a defeat, my immediate thought was to understand what went wrong, go back to the drawing board, and fix my errors.
Lennox Lewis
He stated at the WBC convention: “If this leads to a 1-1 tie, a trilogy is a must.”
“The third fight is crucial as it will determine the ultimate winner.”
“Tyson Fury recognizes the significance of trilogies; after losing the first, he will aim to secure victory in the second and likely pursue the third if he succeeds.”
“Even though losing one title is unfortunate, this match is still viewed as the undisputed fight by many.”
“These two fighters are the best in the business, and while not all championships are at stake, public sentiment will view the winner as the undisputed champion.”
For Fury to even the score, he has to make crucial adjustments to execute what appears to be an enormous plan.
In their first encounter, he squandered the initial three rounds, showboating and engaging the crowd instead of concentrating.
