Anthony Joshua backed to be next undisputed heavyweight champion by Lennox Lewis

12 July 2016 04:53

Anthony Joshua is primed to become the next undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, according to Lennox Lewis.

Lewis, 50, was the last heavyweight to hold the WBC, WBA and IBF belts at the same time before hanging up his gloves in 2004.

And Lewis believes fellow Briton Joshua, the London 2012 gold medallist who has 17 knockout wins in as many professional bouts and is the current IBF champion, could be set to follow in his footsteps.

"Joshua has come along at the right time, he plays the part and looks the part," Lewis told Press Association Sport.

"I am happy to see that he is winning, and he is in a position where he can change and create history.

"He has created history because he is a world champion. Audley Harrison was an Olympic champion but he did not become a world champion, so he overcame that, he has got it off of his back, and the next thing he wants to get is all of the belts."

Asked if the 26-year-old Joshua, who has already knocked out Charles Martin and Dominic Breazeale this year, could achieve such a feat, Lewis said: "It is very possible for him. He is in the position to do it, he has not been rushed, and he has had 17 fights with 17 knock-outs."

Lewis became undisputed champion when he beat Evander Holyfield in 1999 to join a prestigious list which includes Muhammad Ali.

While Joshua is the current holder of the IBF belt, American Deontay Wilder is the WBC champion, and Tyson Fury holds the WBA belt after his shock victory against Wladimir Klitschko last year.

Lewis added: "Obviously, there are going to be guys who come along that Joshua can't knock out. And there are still a lot of unanswered questions, such as does he have the stamina, and can he take it on the chin?

"But we are waiting and we are watching his progression. It is good to have a buzz about him because he is the Olympic champion.

"That is a gold ticket into the pros, and now everyone wants to be on the wave that is flowing, and that wave is Anthony Joshua. We are going to have to wait and see where that wave ends up."

Joshua is mandated to fight New Zealand's Joseph Parker before a November deadline.

The Englishman has also recently signed a multi-fight contract with American cable network Showtime. And Lewis expects Joshua to be a big hit across the pond.

"Joshua has signed a contract with Showtime so they are definitely going to bring him in front of the American crowd," Lewis said.

"I know when David Haye went in front of the American crowd they loved him. Everywhere I went, people would say 'hey, what do you think about David Haye? That British boxer is pretty good'. I know that Joshua will have the same effect."

Source: PA