The decade-long wait is finally over as British heavyweights Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are officially set to settle their rivalry in the ring on Dec. 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. With both men desperate for redemption after damaging their reputations against Oleksandr Usyk, Lennox Lewis has finally weighed in.
Many inside the boxing community have already picked a winner for the mega-fight, but the former three-time world heavyweight champion delivered a tactical breakdown that separates the two stars differently.
Lennox Lewis Splits Edge For Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua Clash
Instead of picking a clear winner, Lewis framed the Dec. 11 matchup as a strict clash of contrasting traits. He believes the outcome depends entirely on whether tactical mind games or pure athleticism rules the night.
“I think that Tyson’s winning on the mental, and on the physical I think it’s Anthony Joshua,” he told Sky Sports.
This perspective marks a significant change from his previous stance. He had earlier told The Ring that while both heavyweights have slipped past their physical primes, he favored “The Gypsy King” based on their recent performances. Now, he views the matchup as an even split.
“I think it’s very important for British history and for the British fans as well,” Lewis added. “This is a unique fight. It’s a great fight and it’s a fight that everybody’s been waiting for.”
Organizers faced significant pressure to move the bout to New York or Las Vegas for American TV audiences. However, Anthony Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn insisted on keeping the fight in the UK, reportedly taking a £10 million pay cut so local fans could attend. Instead of standard promotional feuds, Turki Alalshikh and UFC CEO Dana White teamed up with Netflix to bring the event to Wales.
Because the rivalry is already so well-known, the retired champion believes Fury and Joshua can skip the usual media stunts. “This fight is finally here and both guys want the fight, and both guys are ready for the fight,” he said. “They just have to go to training camp and bring it on.”
Lewis also compared the matchup to his 1993 fight at Cardiff Arms Park, where he stopped Frank Bruno in the seventh round to retain his WBC title. Joshua similarly brings a winning history to the location with past stadium victories over Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker.
Lewis also compared this Biggest UK Fight Ever to his 1993 fight at Cardiff Arms Park, where he stopped Frank Bruno in the seventh round to retain his WBC title. Joshua similarly brings a winning history to the location with past stadium victories over Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker.
To accommodate this massive local demand, organizers booked the modern Principality Stadium, which holds over 73,900 fans. The venue features a retractable roof to guarantee that the unpredictable British weather cannot interfere with the showdown. With the stage officially set and promotional hurdles cleared, the historic rivalry will finally be decided in the ring.
