Lennox Lewis believes Anthony Joshua does not want to fight Wilder or Fury

He said AJ is being 'protected' in the UK

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has said that he believes that current heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua does not want to fight Tyson Fury or WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder. A breakdown in negotiations ultimately derailed a potential fight between Wilder and Joshua earlier this year with the former subsequently fighting Tyson Fury as a result of that fight falling through. Fury and Wilder fought an all-time classic at the Staples Center in Los Angeles earlier this month with talks already underway for a rematch according to Wilder’s co-manager Shelly Finkel. A rematch between the two would mean that Joshua would have to wait even longer for a shot at Fury or Wilder but Lewis believes the Olympic gold medalist does not want to fight either man, despite Joshua's repeated insistence that he would be willing to take on all challengers.

“Anthony Joshua can wait,” Lewis told CompuBox. “He doesn’t want any of those guys!” “When he saw that fight, he was like ‘Wow, these guys can box’ and now they’re going to do it again – he’s at one place in his career and in boxing. "Obviously he can make the decisions that he can make and his decision is not to fight any of them at this moment.”

All 22 of Joshua's professional fights have taken place in the UK with the 29-year-old yet to break into the American market. The fight with Wilder was mooted for London and Lewis feels it's where Joshua is protected.

"I don't think he'll come over here right now," said Lewis. "I think he's too happy in England being protected and boxing in front of the British crowd."

Joshua stated after his win over Carlos Takam last year that he would be willing to fight in a number of different locations outside of the UK.