CARDIFF — Heavyweight legend Lennox Lewis has weighed in on the upcoming clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, asserting that both fighters deserve the opportunity to compete for the vacant WBA 'super' heavyweight title. The two British heavyweights are scheduled to meet on December 11 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
The WBA 'super' belt became available after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his titles following an 11-round victory over Rico Verhoeven. While Murat Gassiev currently holds the WBA 'regular' title—having recently defended it with a sixth-round knockout of Peter Kadiru in July—the decision to place the 'super' title on the line for Fury and Joshua has sparked debate regarding the merit of the bout. Critics have pointed to the pair's recent warm-up fights against limited opposition as grounds for questioning their title eligibility.
Speaking with Playbook Boxing, Lewis dismissed concerns over merit, emphasizing that fighters should seize championship opportunities when they arise. "If the title’s out there – take it, grab it. I believe so [they deserve it]," Lewis stated. When pressed on whether the winner would be viewed as a traditional champion, Lewis added, "Well, I hope so, because who wants to be a paper champion?"
Joshua, 36, has expressed his intention to pursue a unification bout against Gassiev should he emerge victorious against Fury, aiming to resolve any ambiguity regarding the division's rightful champion. The December 11 event remains one of the most anticipated matchups in the heavyweight division.