Former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has backed Tyson Fury to conquer Wladimir Klitschko for a second time when they meet on July 9 at Manchester Arena and admits to being a fan of the Briton’s antics.

Lewis, of course, was the last man to beat Wladimir’s brother, Vitali, so knows a thing or two about rattling the Klitschkos, and he saw nothing wrong with Fury’s show-stopping performance at a recent Manchester press conference.

“Fury played with the Ukrainian’s head by doing that,” Lewis, 50, told Telegraph Sport. “They were the actions of a very confident man. When Klitschko does see Fury, who will get in shape now ahead of the fight, it will affect him.

“Klitschko does not punch to the belly anyway, so he can go in there with the biggest belly he wants and Klitschko won’t punch him there. It will be an interesting fight this time.

“Klitschko has looked at the tape and knows he did fall asleep and he has realised he does need to wake up for this fight. I think if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and I think Fury will probably do the same thing in the second fight.

“Move around the ring, and use his quickness. He moves well for a big man.”

Retired since 2003, Lewis also revealed he wasn’t surprised that Fury, the number one heavyweight in the world today, is already considering life after boxing.

“He has his own reasons for saying that,” said Lewis. “He did what he said he was going to do and you have to respect him for that.”