Heavyweight legend Lennox Lewis gives Tyson Fury the mental edge over Anthony Joshua ahead of their all-British showdown in December.

Fury’s rivalry with Joshua dates back almost a decade and the heavyweight stars will now fight on December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

“I think it’s very important for British history and for the British fans as well,” Lewis, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, told Sky Sports.

“This is a unique fight, It’s a great fight and it’s a fight that everybody’s been waiting for.”

The boxing legend however was not so forthcoming in calling the result.

“Styles make fights,” Lewis said. “And I think this fight is going to make for a good fight because both of them have two different styles.

“I think the fight may go the distance but both of them have knockout power. Anything can happen.

“I think that Tyson’s winning on the mental, and on the physical I think it’s Anthony Joshua.”

Lewis understands better than anyone the significance of a major fight on UK soil, he was one half of history’s first all-British heavyweight title fight when he fought Frank Bruno.

Flashback to October 1 1993, as rain hammered down on Cardiff’s now-demolished National Stadium, the predecessor of the Principality.

The stormy scene personified the bitter build-up and bad blood between the fighters, setting the stage for ‘The Battle of Britain’.

Despite controlling much of the first six rounds, Bruno was stunned in the seventh. A powerful left hook from Lewis stopped him in his tracks, before a barrage of unanswered punches bombarded Bruno and the referee had no other choice but to end the contest and ultimately raise Lewis’ glove in triumph.

Now, 33 years later, Cardiff hosts its second pair of Brits hoping to at long last settle their own feud, one that’s persisted through nearly a decade of contractual disagreements, verbal sparring and false hopes.

Jeopardy struck over disagreements where the fight would take place, with Joshua’s camp adamant it must happen in the UK.

With Wembley all but ruled out due to US broadcasting requirements and New York’s Madison Square Garden being considered, eventually Cardiff was selected, echoing the history of Lewis and Bruno.

The Principality Stadium is where Joshua defeated Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker, it also has a retractable roof meaning the weather will not be too much of factor.

It has been a long time in the making. “This fight is finally here and both guys want the fight, and both guys are ready for the fight,” Lewis said.

“They just have to go to training camp and bring it on.”

Brendan Allen submitted Christian Leroy Duncan in the fifth round in Las Vegas to derail the Briton’s middleweight title aspirations.

Duncan, 31, came into the fight on a five-fight win streak and had said that he was eyeing a title bout next should he beat Allen in convincing fashion.

After a back-and-forth encounter which left both fighters hopeful of securing victory in the final round, it was Allen who got his hand raised after securing a rear-naked choke.

It is the 30-year-old American who is now targeting Sean Strickland’s belt after he extended his winning streak to four.

“I think we’ll be rewarded next,” said Allen.

“I’m doing what I need to do. Where’s the champion? If not, where’s Dricus [Du Plessis]? He’s been running for a while.”

Duncan came into the contest 10th in the UFC’s middleweight rankings after earning a victory over former title challenger Jared Cannonier in July.

Duncan was the busier striker of the two throughout, landing 138 shots to Allen’s 80, but the American prevailed in most of the grappling exchanges.

An eye poke in the second round which led to a deducted point likely meant Duncan needed a finish in the final round, but it proved non-consequential anyway as Allen secured his eighth submission in the UFC.

Victory extended the fifth-ranked middleweight’s record to 28 wins and seven defeats, while Duncan suffered the third loss of his 18-fight career.

There was victory for fellow Briton Jai Herbert in the co-main event as he secured a unanimous decision win over Brazilian lightweight Matheus Camilo.

It was the 38-year-old’s third win in four UFC fights, while Camilo suffered his second defeat in the promotion after triumphing in his two previous encounters.