Money and fame over legacy? Is this how Anthony Joshua decided on the Francis Ngannou fight? The British boxer has signed a $50 million, lucrative deal with the former UFC champion for a boxing showdown on March 8 in Riyadh. While he has dollars to show as gains, it might end up “cost[ing] him everything.”

‘AJ’ established himself as the title contender last year as he stacked up wins against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin. He might have to wait in the ranks, as his scheduled fight with Deontay Wilder took a hit. Instead of taking some time off, he opted for Francis Ngannou, which might shatter his dreams and add nothing to his resume, if Lennox Lewis is to be believed.

Lennox Lewis reminds Anthony Joshua of the repercussions

Lennox Lewis responded to a fan who hotly debated the credibility of the Ngannou fight and supported AJ’s decision to take a fight with ‘The Predator. However, the former world champion opined differently. According to him, the British boxer stands to gain nothing by handing a defeat to the MMA fighter.

The 58-year-old said, “IMO, this fight adds ZERO credibility to AJ’s resume. He’s SUPPOSED to win this fight and when he does, what does he gain or learn by beating someone in his second HW fight? If he loses, than it’s an absolute disaster. The same stood for Fury and it almost cost him everything.”

Following this, the American legend also specified that there was nothing wrong with AJ accepting the fight. But he cautioned Joshua against tripping. He penned, “For sure and there’s nothing wrong with that. Go make his money…. But just know that sometimes in reaching for money, you can trip.”

Notably, the winner of Joshua vs. Ngannou is rumored to face the winner of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk. If Joshua fails to put Ngannou down, he runs the risk of getting removed from the title conversation. Meanwhile, Ngannou would insert himself into the title picture in his then-two-fight-long career.

Lewis lauds Francis Ngannou

While Lewis has issued a word of caution to the former world champion, it appears Ngannou has fascinated him. Recently, when Eddie Hearn expressed his bewilderment at Ngannou’s size, Lewis heaped praise on him for making the most of the opportunities. While Hearn believed Ngannou made Joshua look like a middleweight, Lewis announced Ngannou did “nothing wrong”.

Read More: “He’s Done Nothing Wrong”: After Stunned Eddie Hearn’s “Middleweight” Anthony Joshua Remarks, Lennox Lewis Hypes Up Francis Ngannou Ahead of Knockout Chaos Card

What do you make of this upcoming fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou? Do you think AJ is the clear favorite going into the fight? Let us know in the comments below.

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