Lennox Lewis Backs Joshua To Stop Dubois But Admits ‘It Could Go Either Way’

Former undisputed heavyweight world champion Lennox Lewis is predicting Anthony Joshua to beat Daniel Dubois by stoppage on Saturday but believes the fight could be too close to call.

Dubois (21-2-0 20 KO) makes the first defense of his IBF heavyweight world title against former unified champion Joshua (28-3-0 25 KO) in the headline bout of a stacked Riyadh Season show at Wembley Stadium in London.

Lewis is better placed than anyone to offer his thoughts on the upcoming all-British heavyweight title bout. During his fighting days, Lewis was one of the best heavyweights of his era and is arguably the greatest British heavyweight of all time. Until Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury in May, he was the last undisputed champion of the division 24 years ago.

Having fought and beaten the likes of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, Lewis knows all too well the experiences and pressures that come with massive fight nights.

“It’s awesome, it’s definitely comparable to a world title fight,” Lewis told The Ring Magazine. “You’ve got two British fighters that are fighting, so it’s epic. Every time there is (a big all-British fight), it’s always epic. It’s just as epic as me and Frank Bruno, me and Gary Mason.”

Turning his attention to Saturday’s main event, Lewis believes Dubois will be determined to prove that he belongs at the top of the heavyweight division. ‘Dynamite’ was handed the IBF’s world title after Usyk decided to vacate and there is no better opponent to beat to make a statement than one of the biggest stars in boxing.

“Dubois has been the guy that nobody has been looking at for a while and he wants his glory,” said Lewis. “I think he looks at Anthony as the golden boy in the sense everyone is awing over him, he’s got the fans, the big promoter and he’s got the spotlight because that’s the way it was but now it’s his time. He’s been sitting back on the burner and he has an opportunity, now let’s see if he can do it.”

Joshua is viewed as the favorite to win and become a three-time heavyweight world champion, which would place him alongside Lewis as well as Muhammad Ali, Vitali Klitschko, and Holyfield to achieve the status. Lewis believes that in addition to his skill, it will be AJ’s experience of the big occasion that gives him the edge.

“His advantage is his experience,” said Lewis. “The fact he’s been in against Oleksandr Usyk twice, he’s boxed over in America, big stadium events and has high profile trainers.”

However, Lewis was quick to add that Dubois’ recent exposure to big pressure fights makes the 26-year-old a dangerous proposition. He took on Usyk in Poland and fought well for much of the fight until the Ukrainian took over and secured a ninth-round stoppage. Dubois bounced back with a gusty win over Jarrell Miller, whom he stopped in the final round, before knocking out unbeaten Filip Hrgovic in June.

“Don’t cut out the guy who’s been waiting for a while. Just because he’s been quiet doesn’t mean he’s not deadly,” Lewis said. “The hunger, nobody knows his hunger as much as he does. Everybody sees him sitting back and going through the motions. I think a big telling was his last fight against Hrgovic and the one before that against Jarrell Miller.

“I think that was a turning point for him when he got rid of Miller. He was in a fight, fighting a guy that was pretty rugged and he decides in a sense that, ‘You can’t stay with me.’ And he stepped on the gas a little bit and stopped him, and that’s what he was supposed to do. There was no way Miller was supposed to go the distance with him. I was saying that before the fight and he proved me right.”

While Lewis is anticipating a close fight, when pushed for a prediction he said: “I think it can go either way because both of them have a good shot. Anthony has the advantage. Daniel has been there in the background, he wants it, he’s been dreaming about it all his life.

“Joshua by stoppage. I don’t think it’s going to be an early fight, I think it’s probably gonna be later rounds. Daniel’s not gonna come and lay down.”