The United Kingdom has produced some tremendous heavyweights in recent years, ending a near century-long curse and having success in the division ever since. When predicting how a clash between two of the country’s best in Lennox Lewis and Tyson Fury, Roy Jones Jr said that it would be a ‘great fight’.
Bob Fitzsimmons became the first British heavyweight world champion back in 1897, and he and Jones remain as the only two men in boxing history to have claimed world honours at both middleweight and heavyweight.
However, the UK struggled for success in the division post-Fitzsimmons, not boasting a heavyweight ruler until Lennox Lewis became the WBC world champion in 1992. Since then, Great Britain has gone on to crown it’s 11th heavyweight world champion, Fabio Wardley, who follows in the footsteps of Fury and Anthony Joshua.
In an interview with Grosvenor Casino, Jones said that he would give Lewis the edge over ‘The Gypsy King’ if they were to meet in their primes.
“Tyson Fury vs Lennox Lewis? It would have been a great fight, but my first thought is Lennox Lewis because of the power. But my second thought also says Tyson Fury was great at making adjustments. I would’ve gone with Lennox Lewis.”
At least one heavyweight world title is expected to remain in the hands of a Brit for some time, with Daniel Dubois scheduled to challenge fellow Briton, Fabio Wardley, for the WBO belt next month.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Moses Itauma is hoped to continue the United Kingdom’s success for years to come, with the youngster deemed by many to be the hottest prospect in boxing.
As for Fury, he is focused on an all-British mega fight against Joshua – their own ‘Battle of Britain’ after Lennox had his with Frank Bruno back in 1993.
