Joshua Calls Lewis A Clown
If there was anyone person suited to criticize Anthony Joshua, it would be former undisputed world heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis.
Lewis, who not only held the world title, but was an Olympic champion, taking a similar road to Joshua, who took gold twice in 2008 and 2012 before turning pro.
Lewis has been critical of some decisions Joshua has made in the past and pointed the spear again following Joshua’s June 1st loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. inside Madison Square Garden.
Lewis felt Joshua took his training for the short-notice opponent lightly and felt Joshua needed to challenge himself by parting with longtime trainer Rob McCracken and search for a new trainer.
“Lennox is a clown. I don’t respect Lennox,” Joshua said to Sky Sports during their special, AJ: The Untold Truth.
“Me and Lennox are not the same. My legacy is to sit back and enjoy the younger generation coming up, and not to be involved. Just to appreciate what it takes to get there. Lennox isn’t like that. Me and Lennox are cut from a different cloth.”
Joshua also rejected the idea of taking Lewis’ criticism because of his legacy and resume, telling the host “so? So am I.”
“I became heavyweight champion, I unified the division twice, and now my goal is to become a two-time heavyweight champion of the world. Once I achieve that, I can look at becoming undisputed champion,” Joshua said.
“That undisputed stuff? It was right in front of me but it was one of the biggest curses lingering over my head when I was champion.”
Lewis responded to Joshua’s comments on Thursday morning, claiming the venom spewed by Joshua began after criticizing Joshua and his team over negotiations for a unification fight with WBC world champion, Deontay Wilder.
Disappointed in AJ’s words but I understand that this “jealousy” narrative was only fabricated AFTER I criticized them for Wilder negotiations. All of the sudden im a hater. 🤷🏾♂️ Ask who benefits from such a simple minded narrative? Not AJ. Not me.
— Lennox Lewis (@LennoxLewis) August 15, 2019
Joshua responded via his Instagram story, continuing to call Lewis a clown.
Initial Report: Sky Sports