• Tuesday, November 12, 2024
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Lewis sends warning to Anthony Joshua over Dubois rematch

AnthonyJoshua-DanielDubois

Lewis sends warning to Anthony Joshua over Dubois rematch

Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has issued a stark warning to Anthony Joshua, urging the former two-time heavyweight champion to make “drastic changes” if he hopes to compete with Daniel Dubois in a potential rematch.

Read Also: Anthony Joshua suspended from boxing

Dubois claimed the IBF heavyweight title with a dominant performance over Joshua on September 21, knocking him down four times before delivering a fifth-round knockout in front of a packed 98,000 crowd at Wembley. The impressive victory has sparked talk of a rematch, but Lewis believes Joshua must make significant adjustments to have any chance at redemption.

Read Also: Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois rematch venue confirmed

Praising Dubois for his “unbelievable performance” in their initial bout, Lewis advised Joshua, who aimed to become a three-time world champion with this fight. He stressed that Joshua must “look deep within” and make essential changes to his style and approach before stepping back into the ring with Dubois.

Read Also: Boxing icon slams Anthony Joshua as overrated after Dubois defeat

“Joshua needs to ask himself if he truly wants this,” Lewis told Boxing News. “If he does, he must recognise what went wrong and make the necessary changes. Without that, Dubois will be right back on him.”

Read Also: Anthony Joshua: 10 fascinating facts about boxing titan

Bluntly assessing the chances of a rematch, Lewis added, “It’s going to be more of the same unless Joshua makes those drastic changes. Dubois will be even more prepared to go after him the second time around.”

Read Also: Meet Daniel Dubois, who got Anthony Joshua suspended from boxing

The boxing legend drew on his own experience facing Hasim Rahman, underscoring the importance of self-reflection and strategy after a tough defeat.

“For me, it was easy because of how I lost. I lost with basically a one-punch type of thing. The guy threw a punch, and my chin happened to be in the way of it. Before I left the fight, I already knew what I needed to do to win the rematch,” Lewis explained.

As speculation around a rematch builds, all eyes are on Joshua to see if he will heed Lewis’ advice, make the necessary adjustments, and reclaim his title to reshape his legacy.

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

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