By Chris McKenna, courtesy of The Daily Star
LENNOX LEWIS believes Tyson Fury would complete one of the greatest comebacks in heavyweight history if he beats Deontay Wilder.
It is three years to the day that Fury upset Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight titles.
But the British star has fought just twice since against low-level opposition after a backdate two-year doping ban, mental health problems and booze binges.
And former heavyweight king Lewis believes this comeback would rank alongside the returns George Foreman and Muhammad Ali.
Foreman became the oldest world heavyweight champion at 45 in 1994 while Ali returned to the top after a three-year hiatus when he refused to fight in the Vietnam War.
“It will be one of the greatest comebacks,” said Lewis.
“It will be a part of history. People will look at him being written off to coming back and I think that has motivated him.
“He wants to be champion again and this is the perfect stage.
“It ranks as a part of history - he wants to prove everybody wrong.”
Lewis believes if the fight goes the distance then Fury will remain unbeaten and become WBC heavyweight champion.
But he would not rule out Wilder keeping his record clean with a knockout victory.
And the British hero says the countdown will be on for the winner to face WBA, IBF and WBO champion Anthony Joshua.
He said: “I image the countdown is to Joshua, he is the man at the top, someone always wants him, it is what happens when you are at the top.”
Fury has fought just twice since he beat Klitschko against Sefer Seferi and Francesco Pianeta.
The Manchester-born fighter has fought in the US before when he beat Steve Cunningham in 2013.
But this is his first huge fight Stateside, something Lewis has plenty of experience of.
“When you box in US it depends on your mind set because it’s just another fight anywhere in the world,” said the former undisputed king of the division.
“Once you have a gut in front of you the location doesn’t matter.
“He should react the same way. This guy is trying to KO him so he has to protect against that.
“I hope he is stable enough, there is a lot of pressure.
“He has taken it on and said he wants it.
“There can only be one winner and that makes a recipe for a great fight.
“Fury has a big weight on his shoulders by boxing in another country and he took that. Will the pressure get to him?
“It shouldn’t because he put himself in that and he knows what he has to do.”
BT Sport Box Office will exclusively show Wilder v Fury on December 1, available to buy for just ￡19.95, find out more at www.bt.com/sportboxoffice
