Sky Sports News POLL: Is Anthony Joshua Britain's greatest ever heavyweight?

[Enlightened-One]

Apparently Sky Sports News was running a poll two days ago that posed the following question:

Sky Sports News POLL: Is Anthony Joshua Britain's greatest ever heavyweight? #SSN
https://twitter.com/nitro365/status/922530169163829254
It was swiftly taken down, because of the amount of ridicule that it received from the general public and Hall-of-Famers like Lennox Lewis.

Sky Sports are fabulous at generating hype around their fighters and they constantly advertise the fight cards that they cover, which I passionately endorse, but it does make me laugh when I see some preposterous claims that they make about some of their fighters, such as Luis Ortiz and Anthony Joshua.

It’s good to see Sky Sports finally realise that perhaps they’ve gone too far in hyping-up AJ, by removing the largely ridiculed poll.

[lefty]

Apparently Sky Sports News was running a poll two days ago that posed the following question:

Sky Sports News POLL: Is Anthony Joshua Britain's greatest ever heavyweight? #SSN
https://twitter.com/nitro365/status/922530169163829254
It was swiftly taken down, because of the amount of ridicule that it received from the general public and Hall-of-Famers like Lennox Lewis.

Sky Sports are fabulous at generating hype around their fighters and they constantly advertise the fight cards that they cover, which I passionately endorse, but it does make me laugh when I see some preposterous claims that they make about some of their fighters, such as Luis Ortiz and Anthony Joshua.

It’s good to see Sky Sports finally realise that perhaps they’ve gone too far in hyping-up AJ, by removing the largely ridiculed poll.

What claims have Sky sports made about about Luis Ortiz? (who no longer features on sky sports and was only there for 2 fights)

[littlepug]

whats really depressing is that a lot of people probably would of voted yes

[lefty]

whats really depressing is that a lot of people probably would of voted yes

Most of them probably only watch boxing when it's Joshua fighting.

[Enlightened-One]

What claims have Sky sports made about about Luis Ortiz? (who no longer features on sky sports and was only there for 2 fights)

"'The Real King Kong' Luis Ortiz ready to finally announce himself"

[klitoris]

Lennox considered himself British for convenience. He has dual UK/Canadian citizenship and is more Jamaican at heart. Plus he represented Canada in the Olympics. If he really was British, why not represent the UK?

You could say Joshua is the best British heavyweight by this reasoning.

[littlepug]

Lennox considered himself British for convenience. He has dual UK/Canadian citizenship and is more Jamaican at heart. Plus he represented Canada in the Olympics. If he really was British, why not represent the UK?

You could say Joshua is the best British heavyweight by this reasoning.

Lennox didn't leave Britain until he was 12, that's secondary school age so of course he is British, and he didn't represent Britain in the Olympics because he didn't live here and he had come through the Canadian boxing system

[Enlightened-One]

Lennox considered himself British for convenience. He has dual UK/Canadian citizenship and is more Jamaican at heart. Plus he represented Canada in the Olympics. If he really was British, why not represent the UK?

You could say Joshua is the best British heavyweight by this reasoning.

Lennox Lewis is technically from the UK and considers himself a Brit… and even if you excluded him from consideration for being the greatest British heavyweight fighters ever, has AJ’s “greatness” surpassed the likes of the following fighters?

• Bob Fitzsimmons
• David Haye
• Frank Bruno
• Tyson Fury

Other world champions that were British by birth, nationality or residence include:
• Herbie Hide
• Henry Akinwande
• Michael Bennt

For sure, AJ’s historical contribution to the sport might be greater than some of those fighters I’ve listed, but perhaps not all of them… especially not greater than Lennox Lewis’!

[Covfefe]

Lennox considered himself British for convenience. He has dual UK/Canadian citizenship and is more Jamaican at heart. Plus he represented Canada in the Olympics. If he really was British, why not represent the UK?

You could say Joshua is the best British heavyweight by this reasoning.

Lennox Lewis is technically from the UK and considers himself a Brit… and even if you excluded him from consideration for being the greatest British heavyweight fighters ever, has AJ’s “greatness” surpassed the likes of the following fighters?

• Bob Fitzsimmons
• David Haye
• Frank Bruno
• Tyson Fury

Other world champions that were British by birth, nationality or residence include:
• Herbie Hide
• Henry Akinwande
• Michael Bennt

For sure, AJ’s historical contribution to the sport might be greater than some of those fighters I’ve listed, but perhaps not all of them… especially not greater than Lennox Lewis’!

Technically?

How is being born and raised here till 12 a technicality?

[Enlightened-One]

Lennox considered himself British for convenience. He has dual UK/Canadian citizenship and is more Jamaican at heart. Plus he represented Canada in the Olympics. If he really was British, why not represent the UK?

You could say Joshua is the best British heavyweight by this reasoning.

Lennox Lewis is technically from the UK and considers himself a Brit… and even if you excluded him from consideration for being the greatest British heavyweight fighters ever, has AJ’s “greatness” surpassed the likes of the following fighters?

• Bob Fitzsimmons
• David Haye
• Frank Bruno
• Tyson Fury

Other world champions that were British by birth, nationality or residence include:
• Herbie Hide
• Henry Akinwande
• Michael Bennt

For sure, AJ’s historical contribution to the sport might be greater than some of those fighters I’ve listed, but perhaps not all of them… especially not greater than Lennox Lewis’!

Technically?

How is being born and raised here till 12 a technicality?

I personally consider Lennox a Brit, but I used the word “technically” to make a point about there being no ambiguity in this area, since his nationality cannot be legally refuted, despite some fight fans considering Lewis as merely a “Briton” of convenience.

Lennox always stated about his heritage “Britain is my mother, Canada just nurtured me for a little while.”

[Stuarty]

I quite like AJ tbh but Sky have to climb down out his arse and simmer down a bit! Fukkwits!

[Ossyrules]

If anyone was to ever tweet or ask lewis direct, he would show allegiances to UK Canada and Jamaica. There’s no convinces about his Britishness klitoris. He’s proud to be born and raised londoner

As for the general theme, it’s absolutely right the poll was ridiculed

[gilgamesh]

No. That's still Lennox Lewis by a wide margin, and AJ has a long way to go to equal Lennox.

[jamamb]

lennox obviously far stronger historical standing than aj as a fighter (no shit compare how long their careers are/were), but aj has unreal drawing power and i think could become the 'biggest' hw since tyson. for just crowd size surely hes among strongest ever already? or close to it. at the moment there arent really even that many good rivals for him, certainly not like holy and tyson, but even then look at his drawing power.

[Jip]

In terms of skills it is lewis. Physicly josh is taller bigger stronger punches harder. Overall joshua the best. Better than lewis.

History means not much. Wlad fought 60 plus fights, josh around 18 fights and wlad lost to a green young josh. Ones josh is prime he will be considered the best hw ever.

[jamamb]

lewis has longer reach by 2 inches and there is only one inch in height. size doesnt differentiate them much at all. 'omg one inch in height' get the fornicate out of here man, that's nothing

and power similar, and physical strength how is that clearly for aj? anyway, lennox at in his day had far neater skills and more fluid, its the technical part where biggest difference, but ppl forget aj has barely been pro 4 years. hes going to get better i think and hes already the best.

[candyslim]

At this moment I'd put him second behind Lewis but he has many years to overhaul him. How long would you expect Fitzsimmons to last with an 80 lb weight disadvantage ?

Bruno? I'm very fond of our Frank but he's nowhere near Joshua's class.

[Oiky]

What a completely ridiculous question

AJ still has a long, long way to go

[ewenhay]

The only thing sky sports is any good for is watching the live sport with the volume muted. Everything else is just an advert for sky sports or historical rewriting about previous events on sky sports.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

lewis has longer reach by 2 inches and there is only one inch in height. size doesnt differentiate them much at all. 'omg one inch in height' get the eff out of here man, that's nothing

and power similar, and physical strength how is that clearly for aj? anyway, lennox at in his day had far neater skills and more fluid, its the technical part where biggest difference, but ppl forget aj has barely been pro 4 years. hes going to get better i think and hes already the best.

Lewis was a massive puncher. Joshua is more aggressive and brave, but he doesn't pack that wallop.

[jamamb]

ya you could be right. i do notice that aj tends to beat guys down more whereas lewis had more 'blast outs'

[Bard of Boxrec]

I love Lennox and LL clearly is the best British heavy but lol at his ego for him being the one to make this comment

[BitPlayer]

Lennox considered himself British for convenience. He has dual UK/Canadian citizenship and is more Jamaican at heart. Plus he represented Canada in the Olympics. If he really was British, why not represent the UK?

You could say Joshua is the best British heavyweight by this reasoning.

Because Britain had poor amateur infrastructure back then.

[BitPlayer]

Lennox considered himself British for convenience. He has dual UK/Canadian citizenship and is more Jamaican at heart. Plus he represented Canada in the Olympics. If he really was British, why not represent the UK?

You could say Joshua is the best British heavyweight by this reasoning.

Lennox Lewis is technically from the UK and considers himself a Brit… and even if you excluded him from consideration for being the greatest British heavyweight fighters ever, has AJ’s “greatness” surpassed the likes of the following fighters?

• Bob Fitzsimmons
• David Haye
• Frank Bruno
• Tyson Fury

Though if you do9n't count Lennox you can't really count Fitz as a Brit. He was born in the UK but that's about it.

[candyslim]

Lewis was a hard hitter but I struggle to imagine guys like Ossie Ocasio and Levi Billups taking Joshua all the way to a decision. Lewis might have had the edge in terms of single punch power.