LENNOX LEWIS has warned Anthony Joshua faces "absolute disaster" by losing to Francis Ngannou and gets "zero credibility" even if he wins.
Ngannou takes to the boxing ring for just the second time to face AJ on March 8 in Saudi Arabia.
It comes off the back of him dropping Tyson Fury on his debut in October and controversially losing on points.
Ngannou's boxing stock rose sensationally following the fight but British legend Lewis appears to see the fight as nothing more than an opportunity to make some cash.
He posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Ngannou’s fight with @Tyson_Fury was a spectacle. This fight with AJ is also a spectacle.
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"Hats off to Ngannou for making the most of his opportunities. He’s done nothing wrong. This is just the HW division in the year 2024."
Lewis, 58, added: "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."
Fury, 35, is now challenging Oleksandr Usyk, 36, for the undisputed title on February 17 in Riyadh.
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So Ngannou, 37, instead turned his attention to Joshua, 34, whose blockbuster bout with Deontay Wilder, 38, was axed after the American suffered defeat.
Organisers in Saudi want the winner between Fury and Usyk to then challenge the victor of Joshua and Ngannou's bout.
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So Hearn hit back at Lewis' online blast with: "Listen in to yesterday..the winner fights the winner of Fury v Usyk for Undisputed and when AJ joins your club I know you will be delighted for him."