Lennox Lewis expects to pass the baton of undisputed world heavyweight champion to Tyson Fury on Saturday night.
Lewis is here to hand the four belts to the winner of Fury and Oleksandr Usyk and is confident they will go to his fellow Englishman.
‘I’m a Tyson fan,’ he says. ‘But ask me who is going to take over from me and my professional judgment is Fury.
‘And not only because he’s bigger. Usyk is very clever, with brilliant movement. And he’s fast.
‘But Tyson’s an amazing athlete for such a huge man.’
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Lennox Lewis will hand the undisputed world title belts to either Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk
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Lewis believes that his British compatriot Fury will get the better of Usyk this weekend
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Lewis hailed Fury as an ‘amazing athlete’ and believes he will ‘work out Usyk’s angles’
Lewis insists he will feel no jealousy as he installs his successor. Not even though his heir will surpass his own achievements.
He claimed three of the alpha belts – WBC, WBA and IBF – more than two decades ago. Back then the WBO was not regarded as a major title. It is now so Fury is bidding to become the first four-belt champion.
Says Lewis: ‘It doesn’t bother me that he will set a new record. All records are there to be broken. I’m happy to have held this one so long.
‘It will fall to one of two great fighters. Usyk was a great undisputed at cruiserweight but proved he can deal with bigger men by outboxing Anthony Joshua twice.
‘But Tyson is something else. He’s clever also and he will work out Usyk’s angles. And he’s fast too.
‘When I fought the smallest man on my record I took him out with three successive right uppercuts.
‘Tyson should think about that because he has the uppercut in his arsenal.’
Lewis discounts Fury being knocked down and then struggling to outpoint UFC legend Francis Ngannou in his most recent fight.
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Lewis was the last undisputed world heavyweight champion in boxing back in 1999
Lennox Lewis gives his predictions for Fury vs Usyk
‘Fury didn’t take Ngannou seriously for one moment and got a serious wake up call. This time he’s trained hard. Thought about a fight plan and lost a lot of that surplus weight.
‘He has real stamina and this fight will become harder and harder for Usyk as. It goes on. If the bigger man is fit, the bigger man wins.’
