Lennox Lewis hits back at Anthony Joshua after being branded a ‘clown’ by heavyweight bruiser for Andy Ruiz fight comments
Lennox Lewis has hit back at Anthony Joshua after the British heavyweight branded him a 'clown.'
Lewis criticised Joshua for his defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in June, insisting he was not 'fully prepared' for the New York bout.
Lewis, who remains the last undisputed heavyweight champ, suffered unexpected defeats at the hands of Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman in his career but avenged both losses - and he has cast doubts over whether Joshua can do the same.
Lewis said: “I knew exactly what I did wrong before I left the ring that night and exactly how to correct it.
“If AJ and team feel the same way then so be it. It just seemed during the fight that they didn’t have the answers when they needed them.”
However, Joshua responded by insisting he is not 'cut from the same cloth' as his counterpart.
"Lennox is a clown. I don't respect Lennox," he told
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"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."
And the war of words continued on Thursday when Lewis used Twitter to respond to Joshua's remarks.
Lewis wrote: "Wow! He’s right! We ARE cut from a different cloth.
"Undisputed wasn’t something I “worried” about. It was something I went after until it was accomplished!
"Disappointed in AJ’s words but I understand that this “jealousy” narrative was only fabricated AFTER I criticised them for Wilder negotiations. All of the sudden I'm a hater."
Joshua is now gearing up for a repeat bout with Ruiz on December 7 in Saudi Arabia, having been dismantled by the 25-1 shot in New York just two months ago.
The Watford-born bruiser admitted a showdown with rival Deontay Wilder had hindered his focus ahead of the Ruiz fight - but he has insisted his full focus is now on defeating the Mexican in the repeat bout.
Joshua said: "I'm not focusing on that any more.
"It was like I was coming to the end of my road already, worrying about undisputed.
"I became heavyweight champion, I unified the division twice, and now my goal is to become two-time heavyweight champion of the world.
“Once I achieve that, I can look at becoming undisputed champion.
"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."