Lennox Lewis wishes he could have mentored Anthony Joshua out of wilderness years despite AJ once calling him a ‘clown’

LENNOX LEWIS wishes he could have mentored Anthony Joshua out of his wilderness years — but will welcome him into his three-time-champ-club. The pair have been at loggerheads for most of the 34-year-old’s pro career, with AJ insulted by some of the 59-year-old’s educated criticisms and once labelling Lewis a “clown”. 4 Lennox Lewis wishes he mentored Anthony Joshua Credit: Getty 4 Joshua can win back a world title against Daniel Dubois on Saturday Credit: Getty 4 The pair have clashed down the years Credit: Getty After a shock 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz, AJ started adding unproven coaches to his proven squad, in an impossible effort to rebuild his style in the winter of his career.

When Team GB mastermind Rob McCracken was axed, after the 2021 first loss to Oleksandr Usyk, a major figure was needed to replace the man AJ labelled ‘The General’ and his very own Alex Ferguson. Lewis — another London-born Olympic winner and three-time world champion — might have been the perfect candidate but previous squabbles kiboshed that call coming. Instead yes-men and pad-men let the 18st KO machine waste his prime years trying to become a silky stylist overnight, until Ben Davison got AJ back to his best last year.

READ MORE IN FOOTBALL HEAVY HITTERS AJ & Dubois' lives compared, with one worth £200m & another owning £260k car Britain’s last undisputed heavyweight king told SunSport: “I would have nipped that in the bud, absolutely. “But there are a lot of complex part.