LENNOX LEWIS has called on Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to fight before it is too late – and learn from his regrets.
Lewis reigned as Britain’s last undisputed champion and after avenging defeats to Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall, he beat everyone he shared the ring with.
But the only blemish on his otherwise perfect career was the fact he never faced Riddick Bowe – the man he defeated in the 1988 Olympics.
So Lewis has pleaded with Joshua, 36, and Fury, 37, to avoid history repeating itself while they still can.
He told SunSport in Miami: “I would say to them, listen, just get the fight on.
“The British public wants to see it, I want to see it and I think that’s the great next big fight out there.”
Bowe infamously binned his WBC belt in 1992 to avoid a mandatory title defence against Lewis – who still thinks about the would-be fight today.
He said: “I think he made a big mistake not fighting me, putting the belt in the garbage. It showed he didn’t want the fight.
“He didn’t have the nerve, he knew I was always going to have that something over him from the Olympics, even bringing it in the pros.
“I’d always have that shadow over his head. If they (Joshua and Fury) don’t fight, it means that somebody doesn’t want to fight.”
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua – all the info
A true Christmas miracle!
The world will stand still TOMORROW NIGHT as the face of British boxing, Anthony Joshua, is all set to go up against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
AJ steps in on a month’s notice after Paul’s ‘David vs Goliath’ Gervonta Davis clash was axed due to Tank’s civil suit case.
And Joshua will be desperate not to suffer the same fate as legends Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who both lost to YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul.
Particularly as a handsome figure was negotiated to get this Judgement Day deal over the line due to AJ’s DAZN contract.
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Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: All the information you need.
Lewis, 60, is in Florida to watch Joshua’s controversial Netflix fight against 12-1 YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
And he says AJ is now under more pressure than ever to avoid retiring having fought Paul, 28, but not Fury.
He said: “The British public wants to see that fight and I hear the fight’s been signed.
“So if this is a warm-up fight for the Tyson Fury fight, I don’t think it’s a good fight for him.
“It depends on how he feels about it. I do think that he would want to fight Fury. I think that’s the main fight on his head right now.
“The British public wants to see it and I think it will be a great fight for them.”
