Lennox Lewis punks Joshua for “changing his tune” on Wilder fight

The gist of it is this: Lennox is right, AJ changed his tune. But so did Lennox, so the one sitting in the glasshouse shouldn't be throwing stones.

 

Yep and that's the danger of making statements on the cuff when you haven't had time to deliberate your choices.

When Lewis said he'd fight Vitali he was still filled with adrenaline from the win over Vitali, he literally still had the mans blood and sweat plastered all over him, he was talking in the heat of battle. When he had some time to weigh up his options and step back and think clearly he realised he was tempting fate and no longer had the hunger to compete and so retired.

Joshua made a flippant remark about $50 mill, never expecting it to be on the table, never had a chance to think what such an offer would mean, where would it be, when would it take place, what's the rematch clause, would he have any input on the promotion etc.

 

True, but don't forget it took Lennox I believe 8 months to retire. Specifically, I recall an episode where Lennox told media he doesn't believe Vitali was fit for fighting around December of the year (6 months after the first fight) as he said he was concerned he'd be held liable for damages if Vitalis cuts opened up again and damaged his eyesight. He demanded a physicians statement about Vitali's healing process. That just sounded like a lame excuse.

Vitali went to some clinic in California and produced signed affidavits of a number of surgeons that his cuts healed perfectly and there is no injury specific risk going forward. Then Lennox changed his tune and said he is currently busy exploring other opponents.

Then in January the WBC mandated that Vitali was the mandatory challenger and Lewis has to defend against him immediately if the WBC belt was to be on the line. Lennox went into hiding and *ONLY THEN* retired in Febuary. He exhausted all attempts of avoiding Vitali and then had enough.

What you did in your post was condense these 8 months of waiting for Lennox' decision into something like "Ok agreeing to a rematch was just in the heat of the moment thanks to all the adrenaline. A week later Lennox made up his mind and he was certain he wanted to retire". It wasn't like that. It was 8 months of lies, changed tunes and bullsh**ing around.

And BTW: Yes, Vitali did the same after the Charr fight. Not the rematch part but the hogging-and-clinging-to-the-belt-like-a-little-child-for-way-too-long part. I explicitly criticized him for that.

 

Joshua has definitely been told to keep his mouth shut after 'accepting' the $50m offer from Wilder on social media before Hearn had signed off the official response. Since then Eddie has done all the talking - all the trash talk too - and in this respect I don't hold AJ responsible. I think he'd fight Wilder next if it was his call and Eddie needs to be careful his cash cow's head isn't turned by someone prepared to grant Joshua more influence on his career...

 

This fight should be next for both guys. The fact it isn't, reflects badly on both teams.

I seem to recall Lewis being robbed against Holyfield in their first fight but fair play to Lewis he rematched him in the same place and got the win. So if Joshua thinks he's good enough he should have taken the 50 mil regardless of terms, it's what Lewis did.

 

Retiring is hard for any boxer, especially so for one as successful for Lewis. Yes it took him 8 months to retire but it took Vitali far longer to do the same thing, in fact I think officially Vitali technically still hasn't retired. He only vacated the belt. He delayed the Stiverne mandatory 3 times and I don't think Vitali ever feared Stiverne, he simply couldn't pull the trigger on his career like Lewis.

As for the cuts, yeah it was a BS attempt by Lewis. Though Vitali did get cut in the very same place vs Sanders so maybe Lewis was right but obviously he had no basis for his statement.

Lewis at that time wasn't fighting for legacy or to prove he was the best. He was an old man and he just wanted an easy payday vs Tyson or some over matched opponent, he didn't want to have to commit fully to training like he would have to, to beat Vitali 2nd time around. Had he been able to he would of fought Tyson and then retired but the WBC ensured that wasn't an option and between either vacating fighting on or going through another hard camp and face Vitali again or retiring, retiring obviously was the best option. Had Lewis clung on and fought Vitali he would of been lying to himself, I don't think he could of gotten himself into good shape again, his hunger had gone, he'd have shown up overweight and struggled again, possibly even lost.

 

I loved Lennox as a fighter, but he should keep his mouth shut imo...
He still beat the better Klitschko though.

 

Joshua has offered Wilder April 13th 2019 at Wembley for $15 Million guaranteed and 50% of the US PPV which is just 10 months away not 2 years, also if Wilder had picked up a pen and signed his name they’d be fighting in October just 3 months away.

 

The $50 Million was all a fantasy in Wilders head, it didn’t exist what’s so hard to understand. If you really believe it genuine then please pm me cos I’ve got a bridge in London to sell, I’ll put you in touch with Father Christmas and he can arrange to meet on 30th Feb.

 

Every time someone tells the truth, they're accused of having an agenda. Though Lewis have met Wilder in public several times, Joshua apologist are suggesting that Lewis is biased because of the relationship he fudged with Wilder during their White house visit.

When Lewis checks Wilder for saying he'll beat Mike Tyson in his prime, he's seen as being rational and objective, but when he calls out Joshua for Ducking, he all of a sudden is threatened and Jealous of Joshua's popularity in the British Public.

You Anthony Johnson fans, I swear.

 

“Changed his tune.”

AJ sure did. Well said, champ.

 

Lewis is entitled to his opinion but when you're being offered more for one fight than you've ever made for all your fight purses COMBINED, you got to take it. If Wilder goes out there in front of 90k and easily destroys Joshua, as he clearly believes he can, he'll be in the drivers seat to earn huge paydays and make A side demands for a rematch.

 

Lennox is on point with his statement. If anything he's being nice to AJ.

 

Lennox has way more to his game, in every department h2h, in terms of popularity then AJ is already no1. LL poleaxes AJ all day every day. It doesn't go 6 rounds

 

I hate old fighters trying to remain relevant.....they instead ofter come across stinking of hypocrisy.

Lewis has always had a problem of no-one really desperate to label him as 'theirs'.

The US always preferred Tyson....
The UK never really brought into him as a 'Brit'....